Joseph "Joe" Paul Enis

Joe was born in Maryville, Missouri, on November 3, 1944, and graduated from Antioch Township High School in Antioch, Illinois in 1962, and was a Summa Cum Laude graduate of The University of Wisconsin-Whitewater in 1974, where he also received his MBA in 1975. He was a member of Beta Gamma Sigma and Phi Kappa Phi while in college.

Joe proudly served his country in the U.S. Army, and was a veteran of the Vietnam War. He was a Staff Sergeant, and a member of the Special Forces and was a Green Beret. He earned three Bronze Stars for meritorious achievement, along with the National Defense Service Medal, Vietnam Service Medal, Combat Medical Badge, four O/S Bars, a Meritorious Unit Citation, Army Commendation Medal, and the Vietnam Cross of Gallantry, along with numerous Letters of Commendation. He obtained his U.S. Coast Guard U.S. Merchant Marine Officer certification in 2008 (Captain’s license). Joe was also an ACBL Bronze Life Master.

After six years of service in the army, Joe went on to complete his college education. In his professional life, Joe served as Assistant Treasurer, Vice President of Finance and Chief Financial Officer for various companies including J I Case, Cyclops (now AK Steel), Rochester Telephone and Frontier. He was blessed to enjoy his retirement for the past 20 years.

First and foremost, Joe was a devoted and loving husband and father who loved the Lord. He was so many things to so many people that it is difficult to describe all of who he was. He was loving, kind, thoughtful, humble, very patient, generous, and the best encourager, as well as being a faithful member of Bayside Community Church in East Bradenton. Joe loved fishing and guiding on the Manatee River, where he was known as “Captain Joe” and he thoroughly enjoyed playing duplicate bridge.

Joe’s survivors include his wife, Karen Kirchner Enis, whom he married on December 29, 1973; his daughter, Katherine “Kate” Marie Enis; his mother-in-law, Ruth Jessen Kirchner of Racine, Wisconsin; sister, Ellen Flynn Blechl (Michael) of Campbellsport, Wisconsin; sister-in-law, Linda Enis Franklin of Lubbock, Texas; brothers-in-law, Thomas Glenn Kirchner (Kay) of Glenview, Illinois, and James Raymond Kirchner (Sheree) of Littleton, Colorado; and many nieces, nephews and other relatives; along with many friends. He was preceded in death by his parents, Vincent Paul Enis and Pauline Glover; father-in-law, Glenn Allen Kirchner; and his brother, Robert Enis.

A committal service will be held at 3:00 p.m. on Thursday, July 16, 2020 at Sarasota National Cemetery with military honors. A Celebration of Life will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday, July 18, 2020 at Bayside Community Church in East Bradenton. Pastor David Cooper will officiate the service.

In lieu of flowers, the Enis Family has suggested memorials be made to Bayside Community Church, marked for Missions, in memory of Joe Enis or to a favorite charity of choice.