Joseph Kowal

Joseph – beloved brother, dad and Papa Joe - passed away on Sunday May 10, 2026 at the age of 80. He left behind a lifetime of stories, adventures, and love.

Joe was born in Germany to proud Ukrainian immigrants, a heritage he carried close to his heart. His parents: Nana and Tata as they were affectionately known, brought their boys to America after escaping WWII. They settled in New York City where they built their home and their new life in the Yorkville neighborhood.

He was immensely proud of this story — of his parents' courage, resilience, and sacrifice.

As a young man he joined the Army Reserves and served his country honorably for 6 years. He was discharged in 1970, the year his son Joe was born. His daughters Colleen and Stacy followed shortly after.

His father and mother taught him to work hard – and he did. His work ethic was unmatched. No job was too small to be able to provide for his growing family.

Whether it was in an office building as an account executive or driving tractor trailers, Joe did it all. He drove trucks, worked in construction and even chauffeured around Hollywood and music stars in a limousine, in fact these were some of his favorite stories to tell. His proudest chapter was as a New York City Transit bus driver for over 3 decades. He is to this day, immortalized in The New York Transit Museum — a fitting tribute to a man who was, in every sense, part of the fabric of the city.

Joe had many hobbies; he loved history and had an encyclopedic knowledge of guns. He was also an avid collector of pocketknives and maps. Some of his favorite times were taking his family on camping trips to Roscoe, NY. And he loved to cook the Ukrainian recipes passed down to him by his beloved mother, Nana.

Joe was a caregiver at heart. He loved taking care of his family, his friends, and even his neighbors. He spent his last years as a devoted husband, father and grandfather. We will miss his smile, his jokes and his laughter and carry those memories of him with us forever.

Joseph is survived by his daughters Colleen and Stacy; his son Joe and daughter-in-law Neha; his grandchildren Kera and Jack; and his brothers Roman, Walter and John.

He is remembered not only for the places he drove and the roads he traveled, but for the man he was at every stop along the way — steady, capable, full of stories, and deeply, deeply loved.