Joseph Dale Ketner II, 62, of Natick, MA passed away September 14, 2018, at his home, surrounded by his family. Joe was a vibrant, intellectually curious art historian and curator, and a loving and devoted husband, father, and grandfather. Born October 30, 1955, in Anderson, Indiana to the late Uarda Ulpts Ketner and Joseph D. Ketner, Joe earned Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Art History from Indiana University at Bloomington, where he also met his beloved wife of 36 years, Patricia (Geringer) Ketner. Joe had been Henry and Lois Foster Chair in Contemporary Art Theory and Practice and Distinguished Curator-in-Residence at Emerson College since 2008, bringing provocative artwork to Boston at the Emerson Urban Arts Media Art Gallery, which opened in 2016. Previously, Joe was the Chief Curator of the Milwaukee Art Museum; the The Henry and Lois Foster Director of The Rose Art Museum at Brandeis University; curator and director of the Washington University Gallery of Art; and curator of the Fort Wayne Museum of Art. Joe also independently curated exhibitions around the world, including a 2010 Andy Warhol exhibition at the Brooklyn Museum, and a Jackson Pollock mural at the Peggy Guggenheim Collection in Italy in 2015. He also extensively studied and became the preeminent scholar on African-American artist Robert S. Duncanson, publishing books on Duncanson and other artists and art movements throughout his career. Joe had a passion for art that challenged our consciousness and asked difficult questions without providing easy answers. He brought this art to the public throughout his life.
Joe was a force of life in both non-traditional and traditional ways: in addition to his work, he loved jazz and experimental electronic music, emphasized the joy in fine food and wine, instilled in his children the importance of traveling the world, and devoured literature, from his favorite The Brothers Karamazov to fellow Hoosier Kurt Vonnegut. He also greatly valued family traditions, coached his sons’ sports teams, and loved a good baseball game. Fiercely progressive, he enjoyed discussing politics, and always knew more about history than anyone else in the room. Joe was particularly proud of his German heritage, spoke fluent German, and spent numerous summers working in Düsseldorf.
Joe is survived by his wife Patricia Ketner of Natick, son Joseph III and his wife Caitlin of Natick, son Alex and his fiance Emily Kochanek of Boston, and four siblings: Karen Ketner Thomas and her husband Mark Thomas of Tampa, Florida; Lisa Ketner and her husband David Buffington of Noblesville, Indiana; Jay Ketner of Anderson, Indiana; and Kristin Ketner Pak of Essex Fells, New Jersey. He also leaves his treasured grandsons Owen and Julian Ketner of Natick, as well as four nieces and nephews, Katie and Ethan Pak of Essex Fells, and Joelyn and Starlyn Ketner of Westfield, Indiana, his mother in law and father in law Ray and JoAnn Geringer, brothers in law: Jay Geringer and life partner Pam Greeson, sister in law Laura Ellis and her husband Kent, all of Indiana, and Mike Geringer of Ohio. He is also survived by countless friends, colleagues, and the international contemporary art community.
A Memorial Service will be held at 4:00 P.M. Saturday, September 29, in the chapel of John Everett & Sons Funeral Home, 4 Park Street, Natick Common. Visiting hours will be held prior from 2:00-4:00 P.M. at the funeral home.
In addition, a celebration of Joe’s life will be held at the Emerson Urban Arts Gallery on Sunday afternoon, September 30 from 2:00-4:00 P.M. In lieu of flowers, donations in Joe’s memory may be made to the Joseph Ketner Memorial Fund to benefit the Urban Arts Gallery at Emerson College.
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