Joseph Ponnath March 9, 1927 - May 28, 2021

Joseph William Ponnath

Joseph William Ponnath born on March 9, 1927, in St. Louis, MO, to Joseph C. Ponnath and Helen B. Prazak, passed away peacefully at the age of 94, surrounded by family, on Friday, May 28, 2021.

He is preceded in death by his wife, Margie (Mary) Ponnath, his brother, Raymond J. Ponnath Sr., and his sister, Norma H. Osiecki. Joseph is survived by his loving son Stephen (Mary) Ponnath, beloved grandchildren, Jessica (Matt) Crotty, Prairie Village, KS, Geoffrey (Beth) Ponnath, Kansas City, KS, and great-grandchildren, Marin Ponnath, and Wesley Ponnath, Kansas City, KS.

Growing up in south St. Louis, Joe graduated from South Side Catholic High School.  He then served in the United States Marines. After his service, he married the girl next door, Margie, the love of his life.

Joe would always recount his working at Quality Dairy, where he delivered milk with a horse-drawn wagon. Quality was the last dairy to deliver by horse and wagon. Later he worked at and retired from Cupples Products, which supplied the window structures for such buildings as the Hancock Center in Chicago, the Sears Tower in Chicago, and the Twin Towers in NYC. Joe also worked part-time as a tax preparer at H & R Block, where he received his 30-year recognition for service. After H & R Block, he continued his pursuit of tax preparation working for Hein Tax Service and eventually under his own Custom Tax Service. Some of his clients had been with him for decades. After completing the ’20 tax season this year, he retired from tax preparation.

Joseph had been an active member of St. Aloysius Church. He later spent many hours at Our Lady of the Rosary Church, cleaning, and decorating the church with Margie. They also volunteered at the Missouri Veterans Home.

Joseph loved spending time with his grandchildren and recently with Marin and Wesley, his great-grandchildren.

A sincere thank you to Joe’s friends and neighbors who filled his last months with love and companionship. They offered overwhelming help during his last years. We will never be able to thank these friends and neighbors for all they did; Jim and Joyce Donovan, Fred and Toni Smalley, Don and Roseann Courtois, Patrick and Laura Eagan with their son Sean, Kevin and Tina Gibbs, and Marilyn Hein and her son Randy. Along with great food, Meals on Wheels brought care and concern for their new friend Joe, even offering help when needed.

Services:  Mass of Christian Burial will be Friday. June 25, at 11:00 at St. Angela Merici Catholic Church, 3860 N. Hwy 67, Florissant, MO. 63034. The family will receive visitors at 10:00 at the church. Interment will follow at 1:00 at Jefferson Barracks Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations to either;

St. Angela Merici Catholic Church, address above, or

Meals on Wheels, P.O. Box 782, Florissant, MO  63032