Obituary for Joseph Stephen Rottkamp
Joseph Stephen Rottkamp
Farmingdale – On May 26th Joseph “Joe” Stephen Rottkamp, 70, passed away with his loving wife, Carol and many family members and best friend by his side.
Joe was born on August 1, 1952 in East Meadow, New York, the son of Joseph Rottkamp and Rosalie McGunnigle Rottkamp. He graduated from Holy Family High School, Farmingdale State College and received his Bachelor’s Degree from C.W. Post College with a degree in accounting. While going to school, Joe became a volunteer fireman in the Plainview Fire Department for four years. He loved being able to help his community.
At about the age of two, Joe and his family moved to Old Bethpage, New York residing on 50 acres of farmland. While growing up on the farm, Joe helped his parents by picking vegetables and tending the family farm stand with his childhood friend, Joe Carracino, playing many boyhood pranks in between customers.
During his teenage years, Joe worked during the summers at Seaman and Eisemann Insurance Company in Hicksville, where he met the love of his life, Carol Peck. They married in 1977, eventually settling in Farmingdale, New York.
While attending College, Joe worked for Security National Bank in the accounting department. He then went on to work for Fairchild Republic until he eventually settled at Northrop Grumman for the remainder of his successful career. Before retiring, Joe’s department moved to Florida, where he and Carol purchased a condominium that they enjoyed through his remaining years. During their time there, they made many new friends, including a little dog named Rambo who would always greet Joe when he came home from work.
Joe was an avid outdoorsman, having a particular affinity for hunting and fishing. Much to his mother’s delight, he took up horseback riding just so he would be able trek through the Purcell Mountains in British Columbia to hunt Elk. He began this adventure in 1996, returning with several prizes to show for it, and writing articles that were published in B.C. Hunter Magazine. Starting in 2003, Joe would take a yearly fishing trip to Wollaston Lake Lodge in the remote Wilderness of Northern Saskatchewan Canada. He would forge a lifetime friendship with his guide, Clayton.
Much like his father, Joe loved woodworking, creating fine pieces of furniture, such as coffee and end tables, curios and wall art that are displayed in several family homes. Whatever Joe set his mind to, he always excelled.
Joe made friends wherever he went. His kind personality and always present smile made it difficult not to like him. The phrase “Everyone loves Joe,” was commonly used throughout his family and friends.
We recently received a text from one of his colleagues at Northup Grumman after he heard of Joe’s passing. He began… “Joe was a friend and a great mentor to me. Sometimes you can’t see it right away but when you step back and reflect on things you realize the impact that a person has on your life. Many of the most valuable things I use in my everyday work life were taught to me by Joe”.
It has long been a family tradition in the Rottkamp-McGunnigle family to know how to play Pinochle, starting long before Joe was born. He played it well, likely using his skill with numbers, and whenever there was a family gathering the Pinochle cards would come out. He wanted to make sure the tradition continued and taught his four nephews the art of Pinochle and the strategies that went along with it. Joe greatly enjoyed the company of his nephews and would often take them out for Sushi, regaling about their recreation and budding professional lives. Everyone loved getting Uncle Joe started on mentioning Friendly’s…he would go on about how it took hours to get served…it was hysterical every time we heard the stories…
Joe loved animals but especially loved his two Chows, Buddy and Sweetie. He and Carol had a rabbit, and birds as well throughout the years. Their love of animals extended to all animals that were always in their backyard from the state park across the street. They have some of the “biggest” squirrels in the area.
Joe was very devout in his faith and attended St. Kilian Parish in Farmingdale. He served as a Eucharistic Minister and also volunteered at their Outreach Center. He had one request before he passed, to have a priest administer the Sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick. When the priest said the last word, Joe took his last breath.
Joe is predeceased by his father, Joseph Rottkamp, his mother Rosalie Rottkamp, and brother-in-law, Bill Anderson.
Joe is survived by his wife, Carol, Sister, Rosalie and her husband Tom Costello, Sister, Kristine Anderson, Sister, Mary and her husband Ed Smith, sister-in-law, Doris and her husband John Henderson, and four nephews, Brian and James Anderson, and Gregory and Alex Smith.
Forever loved…forever missed…May you rest in eternal peace until we are all together again.
Farmingdale – On May 26th Joseph “Joe” Stephen Rottkamp, 70, passed away with his loving wife, Carol and many family members and best friend by his side.
Joe was born on August 1, 1952 in East Meadow, New York, the son of Joseph Rottkamp and Rosalie McGunnigle Rottkamp. He graduated from Holy Family High School, Farmingdale State College and received his Bachelor’s Degree from C.W. Post College with a degree in accounting. While going to school, Joe became a volunteer fireman in the Plainview Fire Department for four years. He loved being able to help his community.
At about the age of two, Joe and his family moved to Old Bethpage, New York residing on 50 acres of farmland. While growing up on the farm, Joe helped his parents by picking vegetables and tending the family farm stand with his childhood friend, Joe Carracino, playing many boyhood pranks in between customers.
During his teenage years, Joe worked during the summers at Seaman and Eisemann Insurance Company in Hicksville, where he met the love of his life, Carol Peck. They married in 1977, eventually settling in Farmingdale, New York.
While attending College, Joe worked for Security National Bank in the accounting department. He then went on to work for Fairchild Republic until he eventually settled at Northrop Grumman for the remainder of his successful career. Before retiring, Joe’s department moved to Florida, where he and Carol purchased a condominium that they enjoyed through his remaining years. During their time there, they made many new friends, including a little dog named Rambo who would always greet Joe when he came home from work.
Joe was an avid outdoorsman, having a particular affinity for hunting and fishing. Much to his mother’s delight, he took up horseback riding just so he would be able trek through the Purcell Mountains in British Columbia to hunt Elk. He began this adventure in 1996, returning with several prizes to show for it, and writing articles that were published in B.C. Hunter Magazine. Starting in 2003, Joe would take a yearly fishing trip to Wollaston Lake Lodge in the remote Wilderness of Northern Saskatchewan Canada. He would forge a lifetime friendship with his guide, Clayton.
Much like his father, Joe loved woodworking, creating fine pieces of furniture, such as coffee and end tables, curios and wall art that are displayed in several family homes. Whatever Joe set his mind to, he always excelled.
Joe made friends wherever he went. His kind personality and always present smile made it difficult not to like him. The phrase “Everyone loves Joe,” was commonly used throughout his family and friends.
We recently received a text from one of his colleagues at Northup Grumman after he heard of Joe’s passing. He began… “Joe was a friend and a great mentor to me. Sometimes you can’t see it right away but when you step back and reflect on things you realize the impact that a person has on your life. Many of the most valuable things I use in my everyday work life were taught to me by Joe”.
It has long been a family tradition in the Rottkamp-McGunnigle family to know how to play Pinochle, starting long before Joe was born. He played it well, likely using his skill with numbers, and whenever there was a family gathering the Pinochle cards would come out. He wanted to make sure the tradition continued and taught his four nephews the art of Pinochle and the strategies that went along with it. Joe greatly enjoyed the company of his nephews and would often take them out for Sushi, regaling about their recreation and budding professional lives. Everyone loved getting Uncle Joe started on mentioning Friendly’s…he would go on about how it took hours to get served…it was hysterical every time we heard the stories…
Joe loved animals but especially loved his two Chows, Buddy and Sweetie. He and Carol had a rabbit, and birds as well throughout the years. Their love of animals extended to all animals that were always in their backyard from the state park across the street. They have some of the “biggest” squirrels in the area.
Joe was very devout in his faith and attended St. Kilian Parish in Farmingdale. He served as a Eucharistic Minister and also volunteered at their Outreach Center. He had one request before he passed, to have a priest administer the Sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick. When the priest said the last word, Joe took his last breath.
Joe is predeceased by his father, Joseph Rottkamp, his mother Rosalie Rottkamp, and brother-in-law, Bill Anderson.
Joe is survived by his wife, Carol, Sister, Rosalie and her husband Tom Costello, Sister, Kristine Anderson, Sister, Mary and her husband Ed Smith, sister-in-law, Doris and her husband John Henderson, and four nephews, Brian and James Anderson, and Gregory and Alex Smith.
Forever loved…forever missed…May you rest in eternal peace until we are all together again.