Joseph Frank Gere of Woodbridge, NJ  86 years old born on August 15th, 1935, a devoted Husband, Father, Grandfather and forever waterman also referred to as "Big Joe", "Joe Sr" and "Pa" by his grandchildren has passed away on February 16, 2022. Joe is survived by his wife Anna of 65 years, his son Joseph (Joey) and his wife Jennifer (Jenny) along with his grandchildren Alexander, Austin and Jordan Gere currently all of Freehold NJ.

Joe was the only child of Joseph Frank Sr and Ann Gere also of Woodbridge born onto the land that his father was born onto and of which he would later call his home with wife Anna and his son Joey would be born onto and later build a home on with his cherished daughter-in-law Jenny.

Joe and Ann met while in High School at a wedding in town, they danced that night, dated and fell in love. Joe was drafted into the Army and stationed on Military Pier in Chicago, while Anna worked at the Raritan Arsenal. On a furlough Joe came home to NJ and married Anna on Sept. 1 ^st 1956, they brought a new black & white Ford convertible and honeymooned driving across the US to California, Mexico and then back to Chicago to finish his military service. His years as an Army cook opened his eyes to a lifelong passion of cooking. Every Holiday the entire family gathered to have his basic yet delicious creations i.e., sauce (not gravy) and meatballs, cabbage rolls, garlic roasted pork, and many others! Joe was very proud of his military service, wearing US Army branded hats and displaying a US Army Veteran flag outside their home.

After his discharge from the Army the couple returned to NJ and lived in Carteret, then Port Reading and eventually back to his birthplace in Woodbridge, there would be 4 generations of Gere man born onto that land.

From the mid 50's to the early 60's Big Joe and his wife Anna could be seen on their Nonnie fishing the waters of the Raritan Bay and adjoining ocean. The mid 60's to early 70's brought Big Joe and his now family of 3 to the Eastern Shores of MD during the Summers where they trot lined crabs and tried for some Rockfish. The mid-70's would see him and his son Joey back on same those Raritan Bay waters and then to Belmar. While still in the 70's they would start to explore what then seemed the so distant waters of the Continental Shelf for Tuna and other big game at the helm of the J-2, Duchess, Just Cruisin and his favorite the Long Haul. The trips got increasingly further and longer and took him every winter to his favorite destination Chub Cay and the Tongue of the Ocean. In the mid-80's and 90's Joe Sr would also travel the country with his son Joey and beloved daughter-in-law Jenny with their offshore racing powerboats "All Gere'd Up", "AMT Diesel", "Super Hero" and "Super Hawaii". The 2000's brought a new era and adventures where Pa would again be around Sandy Hook and now onto Oregon Inlet, NC fishing with not only his son Joey but his grandchildren Alex, Austin and Jordan on their Hidden Treasure. Even though Joe Sr the true Captain will be missed his family still ventures into those same waters – "They that go down to the sea in ships…"

The first half of Joe's other work life was as a union press operator for the various local printing companies that once dotted NJ two of which were Wolf Press and American Book. By the early 80's Joe would make a big life change and run trucks coast to coast but soon was taken in as a trusted advisor and friend to the Bohrer family of Bor-Air Nycon and the Habana Gold Tobacco Co until his retirement the only other family he could say he truly loved other than his own.

The love story of Joe and Anna is one of earthly love for 65 years but is one that will endure forever, until they meet again.

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