Joseph Luis Markol

MONTAGUE-Joseph “Joe” L. Markol died February 2, 2017 surrounded by his loving family, twelve days after losing his beloved wife Amelia “Millie” (Lucas).

Joe was born in Turners Falls, MA on May 5, 1928, the son of Mary (Sliva) and Joseph Markol.  Joe went to work on the family farm before receiving his high school diploma.  In 1945, he joined the Navy serving in the Pacific theater during WWII as Seaman 2nd class on the USS Sheldrake.

After Joe returned from the war, he married the love of his life, Millie, on October 4, 1947.  He was a devoted husband, father and provider.  To support his family, Joe worked in a local factory, but soon started his own business.  Despite any formal training, he could build just about anything with wood, stone, or metal.  He was an accomplished and sought after home builder, who often spent many hours creating blueprints for the houses he built.  Joe designed and built his own home and two of his daughters’ homes.  When his son Peter joined his business, it became Markol Custom Homes.  They were later joined by Pete’s son, Joe’s grandson, Eric, truly making it a generational family business.  Together, they built over 80 custom homes.

Joe never stopped learning and received his high school diploma at the age of 76.  He said it was one of the proudest days of his life.  He had many interests, including fishing, hunting, working with his hands, building airplanes, clocks, and furniture.  Joe was an avid outdoorsman with a great love of animals, especially his dogs.  He built his own boat and loved to take his children waterskiing on the Connecticut River and he enjoyed taking his boat to the ocean to go fishing.  He liked to camp, play cards, listen to polkas, and he was a great storyteller.  

Joe was a loving, hard-working, dependable man, who was always there to lend his expertise or to have a good time with friends and family.  He was often endearingly referred to as “Hon” by his wife and other members of his family.  

Joe’s legacy is his family.  He is survived by his daughters and their spouses, Linda and Thomas Lynch of Belchertown, Donna and James Klaiber of Montague, Patricia and Drake Williams of Leyden, Veronica and Pierce Williams of Blue Ridge, TX, and his son’s widow, Anne Markol of Orange, as well as his 6 grandchildren and their spouses, and nine great-grandchildren.  He is also survived by his sister and her husband, Adele and Roland Campbell of Montague City, his sister Millicent Bessette of Turners Falls, and his brother Stanley of Thousand Oaks, CA.  He is predeceased by his wife Millie of 69 years and his only son, Peter, of Montague.

Joe and Millie’s funeral services were celebrated together on Saturday, February 4th at Our Lady of Peace, the same church in which they were married.  Private burial will be at the convenience of the family. 

In lieu of flowers, Joe has requested that donations be made in his name to Dakin Humane Society, PO Box 6307, Springfield, MA, 01101 or to Hospice of Franklin County, 329 Conway Street, Greenfield, MA 01301.

End of life arrangement entrusted to Avalon Life Celebration Center & Cremation Services, LLC 691 College Hwy., Southwick, MA 01077.  To express a condolence please visit Joseph’s memorial page at www.avaloncelebrations.com

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