Joe E Benkoski, Sr

Joe E. Benkoski, Sr, 75 of Watkinsville passed away on February 14, 2022. He was the son of the late, Stanley and Jennie Benkoski; he was also preceded in death by his stepdaughter, Erin Suzanne Tarpley.

He was a member of St. James Catholic Church in Madison. Mr. Benkoski was a beloved husband, father, grandfather. He loved to watch wildlife, going to the beach, farming and most of all spending time with his grandchildren.

Joe was born in Waterbury, Connecticut in 1946. Four years later he moved from Connecticut to the small community of Appalachee, located in Morgan County. He earned a bachelor’s degree in business administration at the Terry College of Business at the University of Georgia. In 1970, he started working at the Department Family and Children Services (DFCS) in Morgan County. He became the Director of Oconee County DFCS in November of 1988. He retired from Oconee DFCS in 2002, leaving behind a legacy of families, children, and the community.

Survivors include A Loving Wife, Mimi Tarpley-Benkoski; children, Jennifer(Tom)Sangster, Joseph(Kelley)Benkoski, Mary(Sam)Malcome and Constance(Jack)Tucker; brothers, Richard Benkoski, Robert “Bobby”(Bonita)Benkoski, Anthony “Tony”(Linda)Benkoski and Daniel “Danny”(Patricia)Benkoski; grandchildren, Meghan Sangster, Brantley Benkoski, Alex, Katie, and Joey Malcome and Colton and Tyler Tucker.

A Funeral Mass will be held Monday, February 21, 2022, 10:00 am at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church. The family will visit at the funeral home Sunday, February 20, 2022, from 4:00 pm to 6:00 pm. The interment will be in Union Christian Church Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, please make memorial donations to Union Christian Church.

Lord & Stephens Funeral Homes, West, Watkinsville, GA, is in charge of arrangements. www.lordandstephens.com