Joseph Eufinger

Joseph Anthony Eufinger, beloved husband, father, grandfather, coach, teacher, and friend passed away at home at the age of 80 on Nov 25, 2025. He was surrounded and cared for by his family. 

He was born in Milwaukee, WI to the late Anthony and Margaret (Borchert) Eufinger on Feb 20, 1945. 

He is survived by his wife of 56 years Laura (Preston)whom he married on Aug 16,1969 in Worthington, OH. He is also survived by his daughters Liza and Erica (David Steinweg), his granddaughters Jessica and Elizabeth Wilder, and Sophia Steinweg, his brother John (Charlotte), and his sister Karen (the late Arnold Klein). 

Joe was a towering figure in his community both figuratively and literally. He moved to Flint, MI in 1950 at five years old, graduating from Flint Central High School in 1963. 

He attended Purdue University on a full-ride football scholarship where he graduated with a degree in history. In 1967 he returned to Flint Central to teach social studies and humanities. He was also the assistant coach for wrestling and football. He became the head wrestling coach at Central from 1970-1974. In 1976, he became the head football coach, a position he held until 2001. In the meantime, he earned his Masters of Arts in Education from the University of Michigan in 1977 and finally retired from teaching in 2006. 

During his life, he was involved in many organizations including, The American Social History Project, The Atwood Stadium Committee, The Michigan  Sages, The People’s Church of Flint, Mott Community College Bruin Club, The Greater Flint Area Sports Hall of Fame Committee, The Sovita Credit Union Board, and the Education Foundation of the Flint Community Schools. 

Joseph was a three-time Saginaw Valley Regional Football Coach of the Year and was a Saginaw Valley High School Association Teacher of the year in 1996. In 2011 he was inducted into The Michigan High School Football Coaches Association’s Hall of Fame. Yet, all these accomplishments, dates, and awards, as wonderful and true as they are, can’t fully capture the spirit of Joseph Eufinger’s life. 

Joe was a person of great integrity, thoughtfulness, wisdom, compassion, and joy. He taught and he coached because he cared so deeply for his community and particularly the youth of Flint, MI. To many, he was like a second father. In the classroom, he was a dynamic, often funny teacher, whose abilities as a storyteller brought history to life for his students. Then, in between classes, he was out in the hall, greeting kids, even those who weren’t his students, often by name, and sharing good natured jokes. 

On the field, he coached his team to work hard for the win but never lost sight of the intrinsic value of the human beings in front of him, whether they were on his team or not. For him, coaching and teaching were about the whole person, not just about acquiring skills. Good grades didn’t matter if you couldn’t also be kind. Being tough didn’t matter if you didn’t also have integrity. 

In his family, this formidable football player of a man, who did in fact  wrestle a bear (and win) in 1970, was surrounded by women: his wife, his two daughters, and his three granddaughters. To them he was a source of love that was unconditional, as well as a source of humor and silliness even in difficult times. 

During his two-year struggle with cancer at the end of his life, his humor would still shine through. He was known at times to hold out an empty water glass, which he was perfectly capable of filling himself, and ask us to do it for him, saying dramatically, “Don’t you know I’ve been sick?”

As for his wife, Laura, who met Joe when she was 18 years old, she simply says that he was her rock and the best thing that ever happened to her. 

Joe will be deeply missed but never forgotten. 

We would also like to thank The Care Team Hospice, particularly Nurses Paige and Trevor. 

In lieu of flowers, please send donations to the Flint Public Library and The People’s Church of Flint. 

A memorial service will be held at 12:00 pm on Saturday, Dec 6, 2025, at Swartz Funeral Home, West Hill Rd. Pastor Matthew Hogue-Smith officiating. 

Visitations will be 10:00 am on Saturday till the time of service and then continuing till 2:30 pm after the service at the funeral home.