Joseph T. Merckling

Joseph T. Merckling (1921-2021) Joseph "Joe" Merckling of Brooklyn, NY passed away peacefully on March 3, 2021 in Newark, DE-only 5 months shy of turning 100 years old. He will be dearly missed. Joe was born on July 20, 1921 in New York to Theodore and Anna Merckling and was the second of thirteen children. Joe married his sweetheart, Thomasina "Tommie" Burke, on November 17, 1941, and the couple had 10 children together. Tommie was the love of Joe's life with whom he spent 51 happy years before sadly losing her to Cancer in 1992. Joe was a World War II veteran, serving in the U.S. Navy from 1943 to 1945 and being stationed in the Pacific Ocean. He lived on Hall Street in Bedford Stuyvesant for more than seventy years before moving to Delaware for the last two years of his life to live with his daughter. He had owned Al's Tire Shop on Bedford Avenue for many years before retiring. Joe was a talented artist who enjoyed drawing and painting. His living room in Brooklyn was filled with his own portraits of his children. He also had a beautiful singing voice which he could be persuaded to show off at times. Joe always enjoyed spending time with his family, and though he was a quiet person, he seemed to charm everyone who met him. He was preceded in death by his wife, Thomasina, daughters Joan Nastasa, Patricia Scoma, and Joyce Merckling, sons Wayne and Shawn Merckling, and siblings Kay, Anna, Madeline, Dottie, Teddy, May, Jackie, and Bobby. He leaves to cherish his memory his daughter Donna Cardillo, sons Ron, Mickey, Glenn, and Rich Merckling, siblings Tommy, Gertie, Connie, and Helen, as well as many grandchildren and great-grandchildren. His memory will live warmly in our hearts. There will be a private burial at Calverton National Cemetery. Unfortunately, due to COVID-19 restrictions, attendance must be by invitation only as the family cannot exceed a maximum of 25 persons.