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In memory of

Joseph "Joe" George Votava, Jr.

Toledo, Ohio

August 22, 1941 - December 13, 2023

Aug 22, 1941 - Dec 13, 2023

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Joseph G. Votava, Jr. died on December 13, 2023 in Tucson, Arizona, at the age of 82, after a battle with cancer. He was born in Chicago, Illinois on August 22, 1941, the son of Joseph and Harriet Votava. Joe loved playing sports in his yourth, especially baseball, and became a life-long Chicago Cubs fan. He graduated from Taft High School in Chicago, and after graduation enlisted in the U.S. Coast Guard. He served as an engineer on an icebreaker, the USCGC Northwind, operating in the Artic Circle for two years at the height of the Cold War. The next two years he spent in search and rescue at the Port of Seattle. In Seattle he met Pamela Peirce. He and Pam married in 1965, and after completing his Coast Guard service they moved to Sylvania, Ohio where they raised two sons, Andy and Brad, and lived until 2020.

A true family man, Joe was a devoted husband to Pam and father to his two sons. After the Coast Guard he went to work for Peirce Construction of Holland, Ohio. In the evening he earned his degree in finance from the University of Toledo, and became the Contoller at Peirce Construction, and later Adrian Packaging Company. Joe loved spending weekends and summers at the family cottage on Lake Erie, attending Toledo Mudhens baseball games, Toledo Rockets games, and following his beloved Cubs. He was a long-time member at Sylvania United Methodist Church, and later attended Epworth United Methodist Church in Toledo. Joe's quiet strength and good nature always gained the respect of those around him.

Joe was proceeded by his parents and succeeded by his wife, Pam, of 58 years. He is survived by his brother Glenn Votava, sister Carol Lopriore, both of his sons and four grandchildren: Andrew Votava (Kim) of Oro Valley, Arizona and their children Anna and AJ; and Bradley Votava (Andrea) of Madison, Wisconsin and their children Jack and Julia.

There will be a memorial service for Joe and his wife, Pam, held at Epworth United Methodist Church in Toledo, Ohio on Friday, July 26, 2024 at 11:30am. In lieu of flowers the family would suggest a donation in his name to the Coast Guard Foundation (www.coastguardfoundation.org)