Obituary for Joseph Paul Carpe
Joseph “Joe” Paul Carpe, 70, of Somers, beloved husband of Patricia (Wickland) Carpe, passed away at home on Tuesday, August 9, 2022, surrounded by his family after a brief but brave battle with brain cancer. He was born in Hartford, Connecticut on November 15, 1951, son of the late Joseph M. and
Helen (McCarthy) Carpe. Joseph lived in Hartford until he was 16; he then moved to Enfield with his family where he graduated from Enfield High School in 1969. After high school, he enlisted in the United States Army. While in the Army, Joseph served in the Vietnam War from 1970-1972 as a flight technician. While in Vietnam, he was wounded by shrapnel from a mortar during an attack on his base, which led to him receiving a Purple Heart. Upon completion of his active duty service, he went on to serve with distinction in the Connecticut National Guard. During his service in the National Guard, Joseph rose to the rank of Captain and served as the crew chief for then Governor Ella Grasso from 1975-1977. He retired from the National Guard in 1994. Joseph was also a member of the Connecticut 1 st Company’s Foot Guard, which he enjoyed for several years. Joseph earned an Associate’s degree from Asnuntuck Community College and a Bachelor’s degree in Business from UCONN. Joseph was employed by the Federal Government as a GS-14, the second highest rank achievable by a civilian. Joseph was a supervisor for the Defense Contract Management Agency in Quality Control. While employed with the Federal Government, Joseph’s work led him around the world; he traveled to Saudi Arabia, Portugal, Ukraine, Poland, Egypt, Bahrain, Israel, Germany, and many other places. Joseph fondly remembered seeing the Great Pyramids of Giza, swimming in the Red Sea, and sailing in the Persian Gulf. Joseph retired in 2013 after 42 years. In 1975, on a blind date, he met his future wife Patricia A. (Wickland) Carpe. Joseph and Patricia were married on April 10, 1976 in Wethersfield, and celebrated their 46 th wedding anniversary this past April. Joseph and Patricia had two wonderful sons and lived in Enfield; Wiesbaden, Germany; Springville, Alabama; and finally, Somers. They enjoyed traveling together and visited London, Paris, Rome, the Caribbean, Venice, Salzburg, Prague, and Dublin. Joseph was an avid lover of music and collector of tapes, CDs, and records. When it came to electronics, he always remained up to date with any new gadget or device. His family always knew that he would be thrilled to receive a Best Buy Gift Card for any birthday or holiday. Joseph also loved history, classic movies, and documentaries, and proudly passed these passions onto his sons. As a younger man, Joseph enjoyed swimming and was known for his fantastic belly flops. Joseph was a lifelong fan of the New York Giants and Yankees. He was also a golf enthusiast and loved to play golf anytime and with anyone, but his favorite golf partners were his two sons.
In addition to his loving wife Patricia, he is survived by his children, Brandon J. Carpe and his wife Meredith of Longmeadow, MA., and Aaron P. Carpe and his wife Amanda of East Longmeadow, MA., and three beautiful grandsons: Connor J. Carpe, Chase P. Carpe, and Alexander P. Carpe who all loved their “Poppy.” He also leaves behind his siblings Stanley J. Carpe and his wife Lynn of Enfield, Cynthia J. Kosman and her husband Paul of Enfield, Robert A. Carpe and his wife Constance of East Windsor, and his sister-in-law Constance M. Wickland of Wethersfield as well as many nieces and nephews. Funeral services will be held privately. The family requests in lieu of flowers donations be made in Joseph’s memory to The American Diabetes Association or St. Jude Cancer Research
Hospital. To leave an online condolence message for the family visit: www.brownememorialchapels.com.
Helen (McCarthy) Carpe. Joseph lived in Hartford until he was 16; he then moved to Enfield with his family where he graduated from Enfield High School in 1969. After high school, he enlisted in the United States Army. While in the Army, Joseph served in the Vietnam War from 1970-1972 as a flight technician. While in Vietnam, he was wounded by shrapnel from a mortar during an attack on his base, which led to him receiving a Purple Heart. Upon completion of his active duty service, he went on to serve with distinction in the Connecticut National Guard. During his service in the National Guard, Joseph rose to the rank of Captain and served as the crew chief for then Governor Ella Grasso from 1975-1977. He retired from the National Guard in 1994. Joseph was also a member of the Connecticut 1 st Company’s Foot Guard, which he enjoyed for several years. Joseph earned an Associate’s degree from Asnuntuck Community College and a Bachelor’s degree in Business from UCONN. Joseph was employed by the Federal Government as a GS-14, the second highest rank achievable by a civilian. Joseph was a supervisor for the Defense Contract Management Agency in Quality Control. While employed with the Federal Government, Joseph’s work led him around the world; he traveled to Saudi Arabia, Portugal, Ukraine, Poland, Egypt, Bahrain, Israel, Germany, and many other places. Joseph fondly remembered seeing the Great Pyramids of Giza, swimming in the Red Sea, and sailing in the Persian Gulf. Joseph retired in 2013 after 42 years. In 1975, on a blind date, he met his future wife Patricia A. (Wickland) Carpe. Joseph and Patricia were married on April 10, 1976 in Wethersfield, and celebrated their 46 th wedding anniversary this past April. Joseph and Patricia had two wonderful sons and lived in Enfield; Wiesbaden, Germany; Springville, Alabama; and finally, Somers. They enjoyed traveling together and visited London, Paris, Rome, the Caribbean, Venice, Salzburg, Prague, and Dublin. Joseph was an avid lover of music and collector of tapes, CDs, and records. When it came to electronics, he always remained up to date with any new gadget or device. His family always knew that he would be thrilled to receive a Best Buy Gift Card for any birthday or holiday. Joseph also loved history, classic movies, and documentaries, and proudly passed these passions onto his sons. As a younger man, Joseph enjoyed swimming and was known for his fantastic belly flops. Joseph was a lifelong fan of the New York Giants and Yankees. He was also a golf enthusiast and loved to play golf anytime and with anyone, but his favorite golf partners were his two sons.
In addition to his loving wife Patricia, he is survived by his children, Brandon J. Carpe and his wife Meredith of Longmeadow, MA., and Aaron P. Carpe and his wife Amanda of East Longmeadow, MA., and three beautiful grandsons: Connor J. Carpe, Chase P. Carpe, and Alexander P. Carpe who all loved their “Poppy.” He also leaves behind his siblings Stanley J. Carpe and his wife Lynn of Enfield, Cynthia J. Kosman and her husband Paul of Enfield, Robert A. Carpe and his wife Constance of East Windsor, and his sister-in-law Constance M. Wickland of Wethersfield as well as many nieces and nephews. Funeral services will be held privately. The family requests in lieu of flowers donations be made in Joseph’s memory to The American Diabetes Association or St. Jude Cancer Research
Hospital. To leave an online condolence message for the family visit: www.brownememorialchapels.com.