Dr. Joseph "Joe" Sloss

The beautiful life of Dr. Joseph (Joe) Sloss, 98, ended peacefully on January 29, 2026, at the Inn at Freedom Village of Bradenton. He entered eternal rest with his Heavenly Father after a lengthy illness, with his wife Nan by his side.

A husband, father, and decorated urologist, Joe was deeply dedicated to his profession. He would prefer, however, to be remembered for the person he was. He was a humble servant of his Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, and a man who loved others, using his talents and vocation for the well-being of those around him.

Joe was a loving man who enjoyed being part of the communities in which he lived and worked. He was kind to all, greeting everyone with a smile and a friendly hello and wave. He cared about others more than himself. His generosity and spirit of sharing knew no bounds. Joe had a quick wit and loved to laugh.

In his spare time, Joe served as president of the Bradenton Country Club and was an active member of the club community. He enjoyed playing golf and spent countless hours on the course. He also cherished the years spent chauffeuring his children and their friends to swim meets across the state.

Music was another great passion of Joe's. An accomplished violinist, he was selected to serve as a guest conductor of the West Coast Symphony Orchestra during the Valentine Pops concert series.

Joe was born in Philadelphia on October 26, 1927. He was proud that his parents, Joseph Sloss and Elizabeth (Mark) from Ireland, emigrated to the United States, making him a first-generation Irish American. Joe was a member of the University of Pennsylvania Class of 1948 and graduated from Jefferson Medical College in 1952-1953.

Following graduation, he met and married his beloved wife of 48 years, Jean (Moore). They began their married life in Puerto Rico where Joe was very proud to have served as a Flight Surgeon in the United States Air Force from 1954 to 1956.

After leaving Puerto Rico, Joe completed his urology residency at the University of Kansas Medical Center. He practiced urology in Youngstown, Ohio, and at Bay Pines VA Hospital in St. Petersburg. He then spent the next three decades in private practice, serving the Bradenton community at Manatee and Blake Hospitals from 1961 to 1991.

During his career, Joe was proud to serve as Chief of Staff at Manatee Memorial Hospital. Following his retirement, he continued to give back by serving as Vice President of Medical Affairs for four years.

As his professional career came to an end, Joe developed a deep interest in learning and teaching about dementia and related illnesses. His first wife, Jean, passed away in March 2002 after suffering from dementia, an experience that inspired much of Joe's later work and advocacy.

In addition to his parents, Joe was preceded in death by his brother, Dr. Thomas Sloss. He is survived by his wife, Nan (Rueckert); three children, Kathie (Brian) Brown of Parrish, Mark (Susan) Sloss of Evanston, Illinois, and Donna (Mark) Flanagan of Bradenton; eight adult grandchildren and fifteen great-grandchildren; as well as two stepsons, Lonny (Joann) Rueckert of Sarasota and Ron Rueckert of Bradenton.

Joe and Nan were married in 2003 and traveled the world together. They spent the last eight years at Freedom Village of Bradenton, where they made many friends who became their extended family. Joe was an active contributor to the monthly Freedom Village Dementia Support Group meetings, sharing his personal journey while helping caregivers learn more about the disease and best practices. He also served as a past chair of the Resident Association Health and Wellness Committee.

Joe and Nan attributed much of their successful marriage to their love of God. They were members of Trinity Lutheran Church.

A private full military funeral will be held at the National Cemetery in Sarasota. An upbeat Celebration of Life service is scheduled at Freedom Village on April 20. Time to be announced at a later date.

Brown & Sons Funeral Homes & Crematory, 43rd Street Chapel, 604 43rd Street West, Bradenton, FL 34209, is in charge of arrangements.