Robert Evan Joseph

Robert Evan “Bob” Joseph, as efficient and impatient as ever, Bob has rushed off to be with the Lord, June 12, following treatment for cancer. Residing in Napoleon, Ohio, most of his life, Bob was born in Paulding, Ohio to Chester and Helen Marie Anthony Joseph Timm. He was one of 3 boys. Proud of his family, their hard work and ingenuity, Bob told stories of their agrarian successes to anyone who mentioned they had ever set foot on a farm. Bob was many things to many people, always finding a way to relate to anyone he spoke to, but the role he bragged about the most was grandpa and great-grandpa. His shirts often let people know he was indeed “the greatest.” No one encountered Bob without learning in depth about his family, and their accomplishments. Every interest of all of his grandchildren and 13 great-grandchildren ever had, Grandpa Bob delighted in them all. Many of them share the names “Robert” and “Joseph” in his honor. All his grandchildren, children, nieces, and nephews, learned from Bob’s leadership, and many work tirelessly in hopes of earning some of his brags. Bob graduated from Napoleon High School, was in the US Air Force, attaining rank of Staff Sergeant, working as an Electronic Technician. He graduated from Bowling Green State University. While he started his first business at 15 as a painter, it ruined painting for him for life. His second business, 'Sunny Joe's Gun Shop,' was started with John Schultz. Bob spent more than 30 years with Owens Corning, working in a variety of financial and marketing positions. He told stories of working with General Norstad, Alan Greenspan, and Bob Vila. He entertained customers at the Super Bowl, 1976 Olympics, and architectural shows in LA, NYC, and Mexico, he presented at conferences at The Hague in Belgium and at Universities throughout the country. He was the president of the Planning Executives Institute, Toledo Chapter, ‘73-’74, a member of the Ad Council and the Skeet and Trap Club for Owens Corning. As a consultant, he worked with the Toledo Museum of Art, on a project for their financial systems. Bob was an extremely hard worker and a dedicated company man. At 57, he retired, so he could work even more at his second career and true calling: volunteer. Bob was prolific in community service. A dedicated Lions Club Member for more than 50 years, he held every position within the organization at least once. He instilled the importance of recycling in his community and family. In the summer he would take trailer loads of supplies and food to Red Bird Mission/Henderson Settlement in Kentucky. Every year at the Henry County Fair, he could be found scooping ice cream with the Lions, then pulling double duty with the Red Cross. When he traveled to Florida to visit family for thanksgiving, he’d volunteer with Feeding America. He spent every single Christmas ringing bells for the Salvation Army, recruiting his family to stand in the cold every year, building character. During tax season, he volunteered to do taxes, willingly helping folks file. He served with the American Legion Honor Guard, presenting dignified military honors. He helped the team that built all terrain wheelchairs with PET (Personal Energy Transportation), and volunteered in fields and orchards with Gleaners, picking produce to donate. Throughout the year he would present on behalf of the Gideons, passionately sharing testimony to churches and campuses. You could always count on him to pray for any person in need. He was, actually, a superhero. Dressed in a hard hat and cape, he masqueraded as his own invented safety super hero, Captain Red. In costume, he worked with the Red Cross, sharing safety tips in radio interviews, school presentations, and community events. Even when not dressed up, he put safety first, petitioning parishioners to give up candles during Christmas for a much safer glow stick. He never wavered from his values, and his beautiful baritone voice belting hymns like “o come, all ye faithful” made even a glow stick seem magical. Active at his church, St. Paul’s United Methodist, he lived many of John Wesley’s virtues, and could often be found recording Sunday services, teaching Sunday school, serving supper in the basement, and every act of service in between. Bob dedicated his life’s work to improving the lives of others. In addition to his passion of watching the news and the stock market, he cheered at his grandchildren's events, especially at all of his grandson Clint’s football games – he was, after all, “the golden child.” Bob was a skilled man, and the tool he kept the sharpest was his ability to get a deal. Whether he was buying treasures he could sell, (so he could donate the proceeds), he was most proud of the things he got the cheapest, and loved a good sale. Especially fond of the Methodist Sale at WideWater, he’d collect and store his donations year round. Among his many collections, he developed a love of coins. He found a great community in his fellow Defiance area coin collectors. His family preferred this to his collection of mason jars, and filling them with nails in his garage. The stories were at least, more interesting. Bob’s truest love was his wife, Mary. He upheld their 69 year marriage vows every single day, caring for her in sickness and in health. They loved volunteering together, playing tennis and bridge, solving crossword puzzles, camping, and traveling the world. Favorite vacations included those they took with Paul and Ethel Goldy, cruising to Alaska, Bermuda, the Bahamas, bicycling in Vermont, Greece and Israel, Ireland, France, Mackinac Island. They often went on mission trips to Honduras and Henderson Settlement, and seemed to be the most content in life, sitting side by side. High school sweethearts, they set the bar high for what true love looked like. One daughter and granddaughter both chose wedding dates near Bob and Mary’s in hopes their marriages would be as strong (it seems to have worked). Bob was a fisherman, hunter, a story teller, a collector, a volunteer, a handy man, an ice cream aficionado, a photographer, an entrepreneur, a hobbyist, a loyal friend, a family man, a silver fox, a serviceman, a proud man, and a good man. He believed in showing up for his family, honesty, and encouragement. His family will miss the small things, like the way he always answered the phone “yellow;” the medium things, like him never ever missing a birthday or an anniversary; and the big things, among them ensuring education and financial literacy, generationally. Each “thing” offered with love and support. To carry on his legacy, he leaves behind a large, loving family, all of whom are extremely proud of him. Bob is survived by his wife, Mary (Heller Honeck) Joseph; daughters Victoria Mitchell and Brenda Detmer (Tim); grandchildren Megan Behnfeldt (Andy), Clint Detmer (Kendall), and Elizabeth Emmanuel (Christopher); step-grandchildren Max Mitchell (Sarah), Mason Mitchell (Megan), Merrick Mitchell; great-grandchildren Graham, Sloane, and Collin Behnfeldt; Kasen, Bowen, Waylon, and Cora Detmer; Joseph Henry and Brooks Emmanuel; Odin and Ivan Mitchell; Cade and Everly Mitchell; his brother, James Joseph; brother-in-law, Bruce Heller Honeck; and many beloved nephews and nieces. He was preceded in death by his parents and brother, Lewis Joseph; sisters-in-law Sue Joseph, Shirley Joseph, Pat Joseph, Marge Honeck, GraceAnn Reese and brother-in-law, Ben Reese; and his son-in-law, Rick Mitchell. The family would like to thank Putnam County Hospice and the staff at Vancrest Nursing Home for the patience and care they provided. A celebration of life will be planned for the fall. In his honor, we ask donations be made to any of his favorite charities, and he would ask you to volunteer for them, as well.

Tributes

Robert Evan Joseph

March 1, 1935 - June 12, 2026