Joseph B. Churchman Sr., business professional
Joseph B. Churchman Sr., 86, of Dewey Beach, passed away at home Saturday, Sept. 24, 2022.
Joe was born Aug. 8, 1936, in Dover, to the late Joseph E. and Mary T. Churchman. He was a graduate of John Bassett Moore High School in Smyrna. He received a bachelor’s degree in accounting from Indiana University and completed Harvard Business School’s Advanced Management Program.
Joe and his beloved wife, Jane, were native Delawareans but created lasting friendships during the time they lived in Georgia, Michigan, Illinois and Pennsylvania. They returned to live in Delaware in the 1980s, settling in Dewey Beach, steps away from the ocean and beach they so loved. Jane and Joe were world travelers and enjoyed adventures in too many countries to count, from China to Egypt to India. They also enjoyed the beauty of America from the rugged coast of Maine to the Great Lakes of the Midwest, to the shores of the Pacific, often with their three children in tow.
Joe was a consummate business professional and completed his career as a CEO in the wholesale drug industry and later formed a healthcare consulting firm. He was passionate about the business world and never hesitated to explore new areas and industries. In his spare time, nothing brought him more joy than spending it with family and friends. He manned a mean grill, was sure to know friends’ beverages of choice and had his own special toddy, the ChurchManHatten.
In addition to his parents, Joe was preceded in death by his wife of 56 years, Jane; his sister and brother-in-law, Marie and John Cooper; and his special grandson, Joshua Ackles. Joe is survived by daughters, Michele Churchman (Jaye Brown) of Dover and Laurie Churchman of Philadelphia, Pa.; son, Bruce and his wife Giancarla Churchman of Rehoboth Beach; and grandchildren, Joe Churchman III of Milton, Jimmy Churchman of Rehoboth Beach, Jeffrey Churchman of Hoboken, N.J., and Jessica Churchman of Philadelphia; great-grandson, Joseph (Zev) Churchman IV; nieces, Barbara DeBastiani and family of Georgetown, and Denise Curtis and family of Milford.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11 a.m., Monday, Oct. 17, at St. Jude The Apostle Catholic Church, 152 Tulip Drive, Lewes, where friends may visit beginning at 10 a.m.
All who cannot attend in person are invited to join the services at St. Jude the Apostle via livestream by visiting the following link on their website: youtube.com/channel/UC2vnHlr2UccJsuItv_Xrzhg.
Arrangements have been entrusted to Parsell Funeral Homes & Crematorium, Atkins-Lodge Chapel, Lewes.
In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations in Joe’s memory to Cornelia de Lange Foundation (CdLS), 30 Tower Lane, Ste. 400, Avon, CT 06001, cdlsusa.org.
Visit Mr. Churchman’s Life Memorial webpage and sign his virtual guestbook at parsellfuneralhomes.com.
