WEBSTER – Joseph L. “Joe Val” Walkowiak, 93, died Saturday, January 22, 2022 at home after an illness. His wife of 24 years, Margaret E. (McCoy) Walkowiak died in 1980.
He leaves 3 children, Jayne Walkowiak Chomes, Barbara Sherry Plasse, and David W. Sherry and his wife Deanie all of Webster; 6 grandchildren, Michelle Marrier and her husband David, Michael Sherry and his wife Audry, Kevin Sherry and his wife Sara Jane, Brandon Liu, Adrienne Chomes, and William Chomes; 8 great-grandchildren, Danielle Marrier, Megan Marrier, Baron Sherry, Caroline Sherry, Emma Sherry, Hannah Sherry, Gannon Donham & Amaiah Chomes; a brother Robert Walkowiak of Webster; many nephews and nieces. He was preceded in death by his brothers Francis, Theodore and Thomas Walkowiak and by his sister Virginia Leo.
He was born on March 19, 1928 in Webster, a son of Wlliam O. and Lucy (Mrozinski) Walkowiak. He was a graduate of Bartlett High School and attended Nichols College in Dudley.
Mr. Walkowiak was an Army veteran of the Korean War and was a member of the PAV, Kosciuszko Society and the PACC.
“Joe Val” was first employed at Cranston Print Works and was later hired as one of the original toll collectors for the Massachusetts Turnpike where he retired as the plaza supervisor in 1992. He played basketball in both high school and in college and had a lifelong love of sports, especially the New England teams. He also enjoyed cooking and playing pitch.
The family would like to thank the Overlook VNA Hospice Charlton Team, especially Nina. The family would also like to thank Jamie, Pam and Aly for their loving and compassionate care during Joe’s last days and to acknowledge Laura’s Guardian Angels for their help.
A funeral service will be held on Thursday, January 27, 2022 at 11:00 AM in the Sitkowski, Malboeuf and Hickey Funeral Home, 340 School Street, Webster. Burial with military honors provided by the Webster-Dudley Funeral Honor Guard will be in Mount Zion Cemetery. Visitation will be from 9:30 to 11:00 AM in the funeral home Thursday prior to the service. Donations in his name may be made to either the Webster Dudley Veterans Council, 4 Veterans Way, Webster, MA 01570 or to the Crohn’s and Colitis Foundation, 733 Third Ave, Suite 510, New York, NY 10017 or to Dana Farber Cancer Institute, PO Box 849168, Boston, MA 02284-9168.