Photo courtesy of Byles Memorial Home - New London
Feb 4, 1931 - Feb 10, 2025
Condolences to the Birkle family. I met Joe on the SSN690 Philadelphia as a young Electric Boat machinist and spent the next 20 years in engine rooms with him as ship's superintendent. A total submariner and instilled in me the loyalty of the "Silent Service". RIP Joe, another submariner on "Eternal Patrol". Fair Winds and following Seas.
George Leiper
February 17, 2025 | Work
Greta, Gretchen and Birkle family
There are no words for your tremendous loss, please know my thoughts and prayers are with all of you.
Laurie (Biletzke) Maciag
February 16, 2025 | CT
Great shipmate. Taught me a lot about launcher and it´s systems.
Gary Sievers
February 16, 2025 | Work
Joe was my friend and also a great shipmate on the USS Wahoo SS 565 for a few years. He will be missed
EDWIN ATKINS
February 16, 2025 | Oakdale, CT | Military
At E.B.,i worked for Joe on the first of the 88class boats.i admired the ship super job because of him. Very sad to see the old timers go. My respect and condolences for his family.
Charlie Bruno
February 16, 2025
(Deven andChristine) Sorry for your loss. Allison Wood Perkins.
Allison Perkins
February 16, 2025 | Barefoot Bay, FL | Friend
Rest in Peace Joe
Dave Fairman
February 16, 2025 | Work
Dear Greta, I'm so sorry to learn of the passing of your father. Please accept sincere condolences.
Vicki Anderson
February 13, 2025 | Montville, CT | Coworker
You all are in.my prayers! Joe certainly lived a full meaningful life!Peace and love and prayer .Ann Marie Strileckis
Ann Marie Strileckis
February 13, 2025 | Farmington, CT | Family
Joseph Kern Birkle, a devoted and loving husband, father, grandfather and great grandfather, passed away peacefully on February 10, 2025 after a brief illness. He and his beloved wife of 67 years, Nancy, both from Brownsville, Pennsylvania, first met while he was on home leave from the United States Navy Submarine Service. After being stationed at bases in California and along the East Coast, they settled in Groton, Connecticut, where they raised their family.
Joseph Birkle proudly served his country in the submarine community. He served a full career in the USN Submarine Service as a torpedoman first class, having also attended the Navy’s missile school. After retiring from the Navy, he worked as a senior ship’s supervisor at General Dynamics, Electric Boat Division. Following retirement from EB, he helped to restore the Brilliant, an historic schooner docked at The Mystic Seaport Museum, a job he pursued with great enjoyment.
He was a lifelong Pittsburgh Steelers fan, and an avid reader of history and lover of nature, who prioritized his family, God and country. He was a member of the Submarine Veterans organization, and the Holland Club. Joseph was born February 4, 1931, son of Joseph W. Birkle and Irene Helmick. In addition to his parents, he was predeceased by his step mother, Faye Birkle. He is survived by his wife, Nancy Deven Birkle, and four cherished daughters, Christina Guarino (Raymond) of East Haddam, Conn; Devon Robarge (William) of Groton, Conn; Greta Jones (Jonathan) of Mystic, Conn; and Gretchen Birkle (Antonio) of Washington, DC. He was an adoring grandfather to six grandchildren, Kevin (Kristen) and Eric (Tressan) Weisensee; Benjamin (Angelina) and Michael (Susanna) Guarino; Jonathan (Caitlin) and Elizabeth (Anis) Jones; and five great grandchildren. He is also survived by his sister Antoinette, four loving sisters-in-law and many nieces and nephews.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at Sacred Heart Church, Groton, Conn. at 10:00 a.m. on February 20, 2025. Immediately following the service, an interment with Military Honors will take place at Colonel Ledyard Cemetery. Donations in his memory may be directed to SubVets, 40 School St, Groton, CT 06340.
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