Joseph D. (Joe) Piteo, age 75, passed away early Friday morning, December 30, 2022, at his Meade, Kansas, residence.

Joe was born April 19, 1947, at the Bronx, New York, the son of John and Doris (Brakefield) Piteo. As a young boy, his family moved to Fultondale, Alabama where he developed a lifelong passion for fishing with his family. After high school, he began working for Bell South Telephone Company before joining the United States Army, serving in Germany during the Vietnam era. After his discharge, he returned to the Bell System telephone companies, working in Alabama, the Midwest and Virginia as a technician until his retirement after thirty years of service.

On June 15, 1985, Joe married Janice Cornelsen at Arlington, Virginia. Joe was a devoted family man. He enjoyed fishing and often joked about finding good fishing spots while living in landlocked Kansas. He was an avid University of Alabama fan and enjoyed bowling. He was an adventurous cook and loved trying new foods with his family and friends. In 1998, he moved to Meade with his family and worked at several jobs including the Meade Grade School and for the Meade Thriftway grocery store where he loved interacting with children and watching them grow older each year.

Joe is preceded in death by his parents and brother Frank Piteo. He is survived by wife Janice Piteo; children Monica Piteo (Mike Beatty) of Maple Grove, Minnesota, Georgia Piteo of Omaha, Nebraska, and Grace Piteo (Devin Mihilof) of Omaha, Nebraska; siblings Robert Piteo, Michael Piteo, Barbara Boone, Mark Piteo, and John Piteo; granddaughter Maddie, many nephews and nieces and extended family members.

Special thanks to the caring hospital staff, nurses, family and friends who helped care for Joe during his short illness and final days.

Memorial services will be held at 11:00 a.m. Saturday, January 14, 2023, at the Countryside Bible Church, rural Meade. In accordance to his wishes, cremation has taken place. The family would welcome memorials to the Countryside Bible Church in care of Fidler-Orme-Bachman Mortuary and encourages you, if able, to do a random act of kindness in Joe’s memory.

Personal condolences may be given to the family at www.fidlerormebachmanmortuary.com