Joseph Kirkup Jr. Jr.

My beloved brother, Joseph Kirkup, Jr. died of heart failure on June 29, 2023. Joe was born on January 30, 1946 in New London, CT and lived with his family on North Rd in Groton, CT. His parents were Dorothy Doyle Kirkup and Joseph Kirkup.

Joe graduated from Fitch Senior High in 1963. He served in the Army in the Vietnam War from 1965-1967 where he received two Purple Hearts.

Joe was larger than life. He was intelligent, creative, talented, kind, and very brave. He could also, at times, be opinionated and obstinate!

He was a born storyteller. Even as a little boy he would entertain his family with stories of his adventures with his imaginary friend, Jez.

After serving in Vietnam, Joe got a college degree in Journalism. He wrote stories and essays for most of his adult life, most of which were published, including in the Chicken Soup book series. He worked for the Hartford Courant newspaper for a period of time and his stores were published in the Hartford Courant Magazine.

Joe worked in Connecticut for many years. He could build or fix anything and his jobs were diverse. In addition to the writing, he was a land surveyor and had his own surveying company for several years. He also bought old houses and boats and restored and resold them.

At some point Joe moved to Florida and fell in love with the state. In Miami he had a motorcycle repair shop with his friend, Robert Lawton. He also worked as a diver and did underwater photography in the canals for the City of Miami.

After Miami, he lived in Lehigh Acres, FL, Ft. Myers, FL, and lastly in LaBelle, FL where he was living at the time of his death. He loved taking long hikes in the many remote wildlife areas and taking professional photographs of the wildlife. He always had a boat and loved boating through the waters, looking for wildlife.

Joe taught himself how to build computer systems and ran a computer business out of his home for many years.

Joe loved animals, wild and domestic. He rescued countless dogs, cats, possums, raccoons, bats, and anything else that needed help. Many of his stories are about the animals he rescued and those he owned. Joe never hesitated to help an animal that needed him.

He was the same way with people. If a family member, friend, or stranger needed help, Joe would drop everything and do what was needed, always generous with his time and talent. Days before he died, he was updating the wiring in his friend Keith White's neighbor's house because it was unsafe.

Joe never had children of his own but really enjoyed being with his nieces and nephew and their kids. He enjoyed teaching them how to drive his boat and his tractors, and how to use his camera.

He was single until 2013, when he married his beloved Jan Leonard. Jan and Joe had ten happy years together before he died at age 77.

Joe is survived by his devoted wife Jan, his sister Joyce Back of Groton, CT, his sister Sue Boan (myself) and brother-in-law Bill Boan, of Woburn, MA, his nephew Eric Back and nieces Heather Back, Karen Boukari. Kathryn Rogers. Kristina Scherr, Kerry Rogers, and their families, his cousins, his lifelong friends, Jess and Sue McMinn and Robert Lawton, and his much-loved cat, Bonkers.

Joe said at one time "as we go through life, I think it's important to leave a wake." Joe certainly did that. The world was a much better place with Joe Kirkup in it. He will be sorely missed by all of us who loved him dearly.

A military service will be held for Joe at Sarasota National Cemetery in Sarasota, Florida in the fall. Time and date will be announced later.

In lieu of flowers, I know Joe would have been so grateful if donations were made to People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) or to any animal charity of your choice.