Joseph “Joe” Swinford, age 74, of New London passed away Tuesday, June 16, 2020 at Mercy Medical Center of Oshkosh.
Joseph Carl Swinford was born on November 29, 1945 in Milford, Delaware, one of eight children, to the late Norval and Barbara (Thurner) Swinford Jr. In 1957, his family moved to Wisconsin, where he attended New London High School, graduating in 1964. Joe entered the US Army immediately following graduation and served in Vietnam from 1965-1967. He was united in marriage to Bonnie J. Radichel on September 16, 1967. In his early days, Joe worked for Ray’s Tire and Gilbert Paper Mill, both in Menasha. From 1983-2001, he was employed by Viking Steel in Oshkosh, formerly known as Northern Contractors in Appleton, and advanced to the position of Plant Supervisor. Following this, Joe was a Machine Tender and Forklift Operator at Perfecseal, a division of Bemis, in New London before retiring in 2009.
Joe was a volunteer firefighter with Dale Fire and Rescue and coached youth baseball for several years. He loved watching the Brewers and Packers play and was an enthusiastic ‘armchair quarterback’. Joe was an avid outdoorsman with a passion for trout fishing, and deer and waterfowl hunting. Joe enjoyed many trips to Canada for walleye and musky, and out West to hunt elk and mule deer throughout the years. In addition to fishing and hunting, Joe took great pride in maintaining his home and yard. Joe had a wonderful sense of humor, a strong-willed personality, and would give the shirt off his back to help relatives and friends. Throughout the years, Joe and Bonnie enjoyed lots of time with family and friends bowling on couples league, going to the cabin in Three Lakes, playing cards and sheepshead, good times after church on Sundays, and spending time at the cabin in Hurley. Above all, Joe’s greatest love and pride was and will always be his children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren.
Joe is survived by his wife of 52 years, Bonnie; three children Todd (Sheila) Swinford of Hortonville, their children Kyle (Nicole) and Tiffany Swinford; Michelle (Michael) Subert of Hurley, their children Teressa, Kayla (fiancé Clayton), Scott (fiancée Rebecca), and Michael Subert Jr.; and Shawn (Leslie) Swinford of Bear Creek, their children Logan and Austin. Joe is further survived by great-grandchildren Jaycee, Alyssa Noie, James Wuyts, Adalynn, and Elena; siblings John (Pam) Swinford of Oshkosh, Wilbert (Jan) Swinford of Plover, Patricia Swinford of Menasha, Norval “Lee” (Connie) Swinford III of New London, Donna (Jim) Welch of Greenville, and Curtis (Renee) Swinford of Neenah; brother-in-law David (Dianna) Lang of Minocqua; mother-in-law Virginia Radichel of Hortonville; and also numerous nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.
Joe was preceded in death by his parents, Norval and Barbara Swinford Jr.; father-in-law, Harold Radichel; and sister, Gloria Lang.
A memorial service will be held for Joe on Wednesday, June 24th at 11:00 a.m. at Beil-Didier Funeral Home, Clintonville, with Rev. Doug Reinders officiating. Visitation will be held at the funeral home on Wednesday from 9:00 a.m. until the time of service. Military Honors will be provided by members of the VFW Post 664, American Legion Post 63, and American Legion Auxiliary Unit 63, all of Clintonville. A light lunch will be served following the memorial service. Go to www.beil-didier.com to sign the online guestbook or to send a card to the family.
A special thank you to the doctors and nurses at Mercy Medical Center, especially the team on the 2nd and 6th floor, for the compassionate care provided to Joe.
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