Cover photo for Joseph Nelson's Obituary
Joseph Nelson Profile Photo
1938 Joseph 2022

Joseph Nelson

May 22, 1938 — May 1, 2022

Joseph Lawrence Nelson (1938 – 2022)

Born 5/22/1938 in Staten Island, NY to Gustav and Sheila (Wilson) Nelson, he attended Ralph R. McKee Career and Technical Education High School in Staten Island, NY. In 1959, he married Carmella Venturini who gave him 2 children, Sandra and Joseph. They moved to Rockland County - first to Nanuet in 1963 then to Stony Point in 1971 - where they lived together until their separation in 1983.

In 1985, Joe met Patty Cronk and together they began a romance that lasted until his final breath. They married in 1986 and embarked on an adventure that took them many places from France and Italy to Alaska and San Diego, and blessed him with 2 stepsons, Eddie and Eric.

In 1955 he began a long career in public service, first enlisting in the US Army National Guard, then in the NYS Army Reserve National Guard where he served with honors, attaining the rank of Sergeant First Class and receiving several commendations including the NYS Humane Service Medal and the Army Commendation Medal. He was honorably discharged in 1985 due to a medical condition and went to work for the State of New York as an Armory Superintendent managing several properties in the mid-Hudson Valley until his retirement in 2004. He also worked a variety of skilled side jobs over the years including roofing, landscaping, plumbing, and electrical work. He was truly a jack-of-all trades and used all that he learned to help restore and maintain his and Patty’s beautiful home.

There’s nothing that brought a smile to Joe’s face like a table full of delicious food from Patty’s kitchen, a bottle of single-malt 12-year-old scotch, and a house full of their many friends and big, blended family.

Joe is survived by his wife Patty, daughter Sandra (Wayne) Winkler of Stony Point, NY, son Joseph (Joan) Nelson of Apex, NC, stepson Eddie (Cindy) Cronk of Fairport, NY, and stepson Eric Cronk of W. Jefferson, Ohio. He was especially proud of his grandchildren Daniel (Michelle) Cronk, Jennifer (Adam) O’Neil, Dylan Cronk, Stephanie Nelson, Valerie Nelson, Kimberly (Kent) Winkler-Reese, Emily Cronk, Matthew Cronk, and Abigail Cronk and the newest addition, great-grandson Thomas Cronk.

Joe’s sense of humor and generosity of spirit will be missed by all who knew him.

Memorial Visitation will be held on Thursday May 5, 2022 from 11am-1pm at Clinton Funeral Home, 21 Parrott Street, Cold Spring .  A Celebration of Joseph’s life will be celebrated on Thursday at 1pm .

In lieu of flowers, donations to St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital may be made.

For Joseph’s online guestbook please visit www.clintonfh.com

To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Joseph Nelson, please visit our flower store.

Service Schedule

Past Services

Memorial Visitation

Thursday, May 5, 2022

11:00am - 1:00 pm (Eastern time)

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Celebration of Life

Thursday, May 5, 2022

Starts at 1:00 pm (Eastern time)

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Guestbook

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