Joseph S. Grabowski, shoe repairman
Joseph Stanley Grabowski, 93, of Rehoboth Beach, formerly of Wilmington, passed away Tuesday, April 15, 2014, at his residence. He was born March 10, 1921, son of the late Joseph F. and Martha (Pielewicz) Grabowski.
Mr. Grabowski proudly served his country during World War II with the U.S. Army. Shortly after returning from combat, he married the love of his life, Genevieve M. Maykut. Together they would raise their daughter, Antonia, in Wilmington. Mr. Grabowski was a self-employed shoe repairman for many years in the Wilmington area.
His business, Joe's Shoe Repair, would serve numerous faithful customers over a 25-year period. Mr. Grabowski was a very dedicated and proud shoe repairman whose work ethic was unsurpassed. He also enjoyed traveling and did plastic needlepoint as his hobby.
He and his wife Genevieve relocated in 1977 to the Rehoboth Beach area where they would enjoy the slower pace of Sussex County living. Mr. Grabowski was a member of St. Jude the Apostle Catholic Church in Lewes. He also maintained his membership with VFW Post 3257 in Wilmington.
In addition to his parents, Mr. Grabowski was preceded in death by his devoted wife, Genevieve, in 2012; two sisters, Sophie Kryspin and Frances Sosnowski; and two brothers, Edward and John Grabowski. He is survived by two daughters, Antonia Pass and husband Charles of Scottsdale, Ariz. and Diane Bach and husband Howard of Chesapeake City, Md.; three grandchildren, Christian Pass and his wife Vanessa of Danville, Calif., Jonathan Pass and his wife Kristine of Lafayette, Calif. and Jamie Pass and his wife Amber of Lake Tahoe, Calif; five great-grandchildren, Kyle, Ben, Bella, C.J. and Brady; his sister, Helen Zankowsky and husband Milton of Wilmington; and brother-in-law, Walter Sosnowski of Youngstown, Ohio.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 9:30 a.m., Friday, June 6, at St. Jude the Apostle Catholic Church, 152 Tulip Drive, Lewes. Interment will follow the services at 11 a.m. at the Delaware Veterans Memorial Cemetery, 26669 Patriots Way, Millsboro.
Arrangements are being handled by Parsell Funeral Homes & Crematorium, Lewes.
Memorial contributions in Mr. Grabowski’s memory may be made to Delaware Hospice, 100 Patriots Way, Milford, DE 19963, or American Diabetes Association, 100 West 10th Street, Suite 1002, Wilmington, DE 19801.
