Joseph Marino, Jr. of Grand Rapids, Michigan, went home to be with his Lord on Saturday, June 17, 2017, five days short of his 90th birthday. He was born June 22, 1927 and grew up in Cleveland, Ohio.
Joseph was preceded in death by his beloved wife of 61 years, Jean (nee Pinti), his father Joseph Marino, Sr. and his mother, Mary; siblings George (his twin), Antoinette “Lee” (Sirna), Madge (Ballato), Frederick, and James; niece Carolyn Ballato.
He is survived by his son Martin (Michele) of Grand Rapids, Michigan; daughter Lisa Zwick (Michael) of Akron, Ohio; grandchildren Shawn Zwick (Chelsea), Kaley, Kimberly Zwick, Alexis, Julia, Alexandria and Josh Kuiper; great-granddaughters Quinn and Evie Zwick; and many other cherished relatives and friends who will miss his gentle manner and loving concern for them.
Joseph was a U.S. Navy veteran, serving active duty during WWII. He lived and raised his family in Shaker Heights, Ohio, where he was a grocer for over 30 years for a specialty food store. In his retirement, Joseph became a part-time salesman for Akron Cotton Products, Inc.
Joseph and Jean were members of the East Side Christian Reformed Church in Warrensville Heights, Ohio, where he served as an elder and a Sunday school teacher. They later joined Parkside Church in Solon, Ohio, where he served as head usher for 14 years, and was a deacon assistant. More recently, he attended The Chapel in Green, Ohio, and Keystone Community Church in Grand Rapids, Michigan.
A memorial service will be held on Saturday, July 8, 2017 at 9:30 a.m. at the Chapel in Green, located at 1800 Raber Road in Uniontown Ohio, 44685. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to Hospice of Michigan, 989 Spaulding Ave. SE, Ada, MI 49301 or Keystone Community Church, 655 Spaulding Ave SE, Ada, MI 49301. Arrangements by O’Brien-Eggebeen-Gerst Funeral Home gerstfuneralhomes.com