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Joseph Colfer Obituary
JOSEPH A. COLFER
AGE: 57 HOWELL
Joseph A. Colfer, 57, of Howell, died Saturday, April 24, 2010. He was born in Newark, NJ and resided in Milburn before moving to Howell in 1982. He was a business manager for the Sprinkler Fitter's Local Union #696 in Newark for over 30 years. Joseph was a former president of the Monmouth & Ocean Building Trades Association. He was a Communicant of St. Veronica's Church, Howell, assisting with the Altar Server Program and coaching for the schools baseball team. Joseph also coached for the Howell Little League.
He is survived by his wife Diane, 4 sons, Joseph W. and his wife Jaclyn, Adam and his wife Elizabeth, Michael and Alexander, a daughter Stacey, 2 brothers, William and Harold, 2 sisters, Margaret and Marie and 2 grandchildren, Luke and Joshua.
Visitation will be held on Monday from 7-9 PM and Tuesday from 2-4 & 7-9 PM at the Lakewood Funeral Home, 6250 Highway 9, Howell, NJ. A Mass of Christian Burial will be offered on Wednesday, 9:30 AM at St. Veronica's Church, Howell. Burial will follow at St. Rose of Lima Cemetery, Freehold.
To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.
Memories and Condolences
for Joseph Colfer
The Miri Family
May 20, 2010
To the Colfer family,
We wish to extend our sincere condolences to all of you at this difficult time. Your Dad will certainly be missed by all who knew him. Like a pebble tossed into a still pond, his legacy of good works and his many kindnesses continue in the lives of all he touched over the years. May God be with you during this very sad walk.
John and Ellen Miri and family
Robert and Luz Miri and family
Cindi Belcher
May 4, 2010
My heart is broken!!!!! I met Joe and his family when my son Brandon played baseball at HCLL, with Mikey Colfer, this man was one of the greatest, caring men that i have ever met!!! i didn't talk to Joe all the time, but I knew if ever i needed him he would be there!!!!! Diane, Joe, Adam, Stacey, Mikey, Alex and the rest of your family, I am truly Sorry for your loss!!!!!!
Cindi, Brandon and Taylor Belcher
Nancy Bernot
May 2, 2010
Dear Diane, Michael, Alex, and family, I am truly sorry for the loss of your husband and dad. I will keep you all in my prayers and ask that God's grace carry you through what i'm sure is a very difficult time.
The Cusicks
April 30, 2010
We are sorry for your loss. Our thoughts and prayers are with you at this horrible time.
Tim Skinner
April 28, 2010
My deepest condolences to the Colfer family. Joe was one of a kind and will truely be missed. Joe was a true leader in the labor movement and the sprinkler industry.
Marc Harris
April 28, 2010
Stacey and Family: Please accept my condolences on your loss.
Gurvis Miner
April 27, 2010
To the entire Colfer Family,
My thoughts and prayers will be with you during this very difficult time of the lost of your husband, Dad, and our brother. Joe will always be remembered as one of, if not, the"Greatest Labor Leaders of the Building Trades." He lead by example. I can proudly say that he influenced my life as a Labor Leader and many others! Joe will be missed greatly, but never forgotten. May God keep each of you in his care.
Gurvis Miner,President, LIUNA Laborers Local 595
Jim Niziolek
April 27, 2010
Diane, Michael, Alex and family,
Our sincere condolences to you at this time. Joe was great guy, coach and father. I'll miss talking to him about baseball and always remember him for his kind words and love for the boys. May he rest in peace and may the angels welcome him into heaven.
The Niziolek Family
Stan Valenick
April 27, 2010
Dear Colfer family:
Please accept my deepest condolences on your terrible loss.
Pamela Roundtree
April 27, 2010
I am so sorry for your loss. My prayers go out to your family.
NASI
April 27, 2010
My condolences to the Colfer family. I enjoyed working with Joe on the Monmouth & Ocean County Building Trades Council. I remember him as a good family man , a good union man and a good friend. He will be missed by those who were fortunate enough to know him. Jim Brandenburg
Robert,Lisa,Zachary & Justin Doyle
April 27, 2010
Dear Diane,Michael and Alex
Our deepest condolences to all of you.
Joe is and was one of the finest people our family has ever met. Joe will be missed greatly by all who know him.
Gary Ramsey
April 26, 2010
Colfer family & Local 696,
Our Heartfelt sympathy goes out to you on the passing of Brother Colfer. Joe was a great labor leader & friend that dedicated his life to organized labor. It was a pleasure working with him at the Monmouth & Ocean Counties Building Trades. He will be truly missed.
Gary Ramsey
Business Manager Laborers Local 595
Jacki Koenig
April 26, 2010
Dear Diane and Family,
Gary and I are deeply saddened by the loss of a dear friend. He will be truly missed by all who had the privilege of knowing him, but missed even more by the people who worked side by side with a true leader. May you all take comfort in knowing he was loved by so many. XOXO Gary and Jacki
Orlando Arana
April 26, 2010
I send my condolences to Joe's family.
Uncle Charlie & Aunt Joanne
April 26, 2010
Dear Joe and Jackie,
We are so very sorry for the loss of your Dad. Although we didn't know your Dad very well, after reading all the beautiful expressions of sympathy, it is so clear he was a very special and loving man. Please express our sympathy to your entire family and know you are all in our thoughts and prayers during this sad and difficult time. We love you very much!
Tony Papili
April 26, 2010
To the Colfer Family, I am truly sorry for your loss. Joe was a great person and a true friend. He always went out of his way to greet everybody and he was a fine union man. Please try to remember all the good he did in his life and all the people he helped along the way.
April 26, 2010
The New Jersey Labor movement lost a great leader with the passing of Brother Colfer.He helped many over the years and earned his place in our hearts. My sympathy goes out to the entire Colfer family as they greive his passing. Joe will be missed. May he rest in peace.
John Shea
April 26, 2010
Dear Diane and Colfer family: I am so sorry for your loss. God rest his soul. sincerely , Jane kulaga
Gary Eagan
April 26, 2010
My condolences to Joe's family. He was a fine man and a dedicated advocate for his members.
Gary Eagan, Local 314
Cynthia Grupe
April 26, 2010
Dear Stacey,
I am so sorry for your loss, my deepest condolences to you and your family. Cynthia Grupe
Jim De Angelis
April 26, 2010
Diane and Family,
Today is a sad day for me and the rest of our community. I have only known Joe for 10 years, but through the years I have come to find Joe to be one of the finest people that I have ever known. He truly cared about his people, his friends, but most of all, his family. He was always there for me to lend guidance or assistance, and planning Labor Union Night at the Lakewood BlueClaws was truly one of my most memorable times with the BlueClaws. I will sorely miss his wit and humor, but most of all, his humility. I wish that I could put somewhere on my resume' for the BlueClaws, "Friend of Joe Colfer" and have it mean as much to everybody that reads it as it does to me...
Jim De Angelis
Lakewood BlueClaws Baseball Club
April 26, 2010
To the Colfer family
Joe was one of the best, when the fire service called Joe would always respond with a positive solution. God Bless
Chief John F. Lightbody
Toms River Fire Prevention Bureau
April 26, 2010
Dear Colfer Family,
We were so sorry to hear of your loss, you are in our thoughts and prayers during this time.
The Sayko Family
Jennifer Harsley
April 26, 2010
Dear Stacey and Family - I am so sorry to hear about the loss of your father. You are in our thoughts and prayers. Jennifer Harsley
Gina Purazzo
April 26, 2010
We are so sorry for the loss of Joseph Colfer! My father is a Business Agent of local 696 and always spoke highly of Joe. The sprinkler family. local 696 has lost a great brother. I wish the family compassion and strength during this extremly difficult time... Love Gina Candura Purazzo and family.
Mark Fortune
April 25, 2010
Dear Diane,Michael and Alex I am so sorry for your loss Joe will be sadly missed he was and always will be a truly wonderful person to be around and sadly missed in the sprinkler industry.
Dave Kane
April 25, 2010
To the Colfer family,
My thoughts and prayers are with you. Joe was very special to me. He helped me many times as a business owner, a union member and a friend in need. I would do anything for him. God Bless
Lori Kelly
April 25, 2010
We are so sorry for your loss. Our thoughts and prayers go out to you during this very difficult time.
Tom, Lori, Dylan and Kevin Kelly
The Paolo Family
April 25, 2010
Dear Diane, Michael and Alex,
We are so sorry for your loss. Joe was such a wonderful man. Our thoughts and prayers are with you at this time of sorrow.
Tom Elkow
April 25, 2010
We are deeply sorry to hear about the passing of Joe. Our thoughts and prayers are with your family.
The Elkow's
Michael Halpin
April 25, 2010
My heart and prayers go out to you for your loss. Joe was much more than my business manager. He was a friend and a fellow Newarker. We all will miss him. God Bless
April 25, 2010
Dear Diane, Alex and Michael,
Our deepest condolences to all of you. Our thoughts and prayers will be with you always. Joe was such a wonderful man and a pleasure to know he will be deeply missed. God Bless.
Love,Paul,Antonia and Paul Falcone
April 25, 2010
I am a 696 sprinklerfitter who admired and enjoyed a friendship with big Joe. Joe would sometimes kid me about being a fellow Nicky Newarker. I am deeply saddened by our loss. I would like his family to know how much I cared for Joe. I offer my deepest sympathy. Michael McCrone (Bayville,NJ)
Noorman Hallock
April 25, 2010
My deepest condolences go out to you and yours at this time. Local 669 in New Jersey will miss a dear friend.
Pete Geronimo
April 25, 2010
My heartfelt sorrow goes out to the Colfer Family. Joe was a true friend. My thoughts and prayers are with you in this difficult time. God Bless
April 25, 2010
My condolences to the family and love ones of Joe. He will truly be missed by all who knew him. Not only for his leadership but for the friendship he share with all.
Larry A.Barker, Local 669
John and Kathleen Miri
April 25, 2010
Dear Diane, Michael, and Alex,
We are deeply saddened to hear of your great loss. Please know that our thoughts and prayers are with you during this time of sorrow. May you find comfort in the love and support of your many friends as you entrust Joe to the tender embrace of God.
John Bodine
April 25, 2010
My deepest condolences in this time of loss to Joe's family and friends. Joe is and was one of the best men I ever met. He had a way of always doing the right thing and a way of guiding the rest of us towards doing the same. He will be missed in the Sprinkler Industry deeply.
John Wade
April 25, 2010
I am very sorry to hear of Joe's passing. He was a true friend and a great leader of his Union. He will be missed by many.
Gary Quinn
April 25, 2010
Diane , Mike and Alex,
Our thoughts and prayers are with you in your time of grief. May your memories bring you comfort.. Joe will truely be missed by all.
Gary & Jacklyn Quinn
John Garhe
April 25, 2010
I am deeply sadden by the loss of a friend, Brother, and colleague, Joseph Colfer. He was a true Labor Leader who worked tirelessly for his members and the union movement, and stood by his word. His presence will not only be missed by his family, but by all that knew and worked with him in the Fire Sprinkler Industry and union movement. My deepest sympathies and condolences to his family and all his friends and colleagues.
Michel & Kate Vallee (nee Szczepaniak)
April 25, 2010
Local 696 has lost a leader and a brother who worked tirelessly for the union. Our deepest sympathies to his family and friends. He will truly be missed.
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