Joseph Ness

JOSEPH NESS Joseph B. Ness, 78, of Las Vegas, passed away Dec. 6, 2009. He was born Oct. 10, 1931, in the Bronx, N.Y., and was a 20-year resident of Nevada. Joseph was a registered nurse that worked the ER, the OR, private duty, the New York docks and helped with the bandaging and first aid during the filming of a movie. He then took that degree and went to Blue Shield (now Blue Cross Blue Shield) and helped set-up their claims department. He worked with Ross Perot taking Blue Shield into the computer age. From there, Joe went into public relations for Blue Shield and was responsible for 12 counties in New York. He also worked for Metropolitan Life Insurance in Tucson, Ariz., where he changed the company policy so that mentally handicapped children could get insurance. Mr. Ness also owned a restaurant and worked in Las Vegas hotels. After retirement, he was busier than ever, including full-time RVing the USA in a fifth wheel with a one-ton dually for two years. Joseph was married four times as follows: Joy Ness, Barbara Ness (deceased), Frances Ness and Kathy Ness. Joseph was preceded in death by his father, Herman Nass; and mother, Helen Nass; wife, Barbara Ness; and grandson, Michael. Joseph is survived by his wife, of 31 years, Kathy Ness; children, Jolie Ness, JoAnn Ness, Jody Miller, Lori Jo Ness and William Ness; stepchildren, Kathe Hawver, Karen Jones, Karla Carlucci, Gigi Wells and Mark Brayman; grandchildren, Kristin Leesah, Helena, Natasha, George, Daniel, Noah, Justus, Robin, Robert, Anthony, Tina, Lisa, Theresa, Kelly, Mark, Christopher, Johnhenry, Tonya, Ricky and David; and great-grandchildren, Kaydence, Patrick, Andrew, Zachary, Nathan, Cole, Justin, Melanie, Marissa, Megan, Madeline Rose, Isabella, Robbie, Dylan, Kimberly, Chloe, Paul, Joshua and Tyler. Services will be 1-3 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 9, at 4001 Poppy Fields Drive, Las Vegas, NV 89129. Donations can be made to the American Lung Association, American Cancer Society, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital or Chabad.