Susan~ I just heard about Joe's passing yesterday and I am saddened to hear this news. I worked with Joe at T.C. Nash and then Johnstone for about 7 years and I just saw him on Good Friday and he showed me around the office and we talked about the good old days. He gave me my start in this business and that I will never forget. You and your family are in my thoughts and prayers.

I had the privilege of many conversations with Joe at the Johnstone meetings and he always had the knack of making one feel better about themselves and everything around them when the conversation was over. He was a calming gentle man that I respected a great deal. Sue our prayers are with you and the other family members. Joe will be sadly missed but never forgotten at all future Johnstone meetings.

Susan and Family, I as privileged to get to know Joe, I really got to know Joe on the Johnstone software finding committee years ago.  He is a fantastic person; God must have something important for him to do on the other side.   I know that he still lives and is probably having a great time meeting all of his ancestors.  I pray that our Heavenly Father will comfort you and your family at this time.

Susan and Family, I as privileged to get to know Joe, I really got to know Joe on the Johnstone software finding committee years ago. He is a fantastic person; God must have something important for him to do on the other side for him to take him at this time. I know that he still lives and is probably having a great time meeting all of his ancestors. I pray that our Heavenly Father will comfort you and your family at this time.

Susan and Family, I as privileged to get to know Joe, I really got to know Joe on the Johnstone software finding committee years ago.  He is a fantastic person; God must have something important for him to do on the other side for him to take him at this time.   I know that he still lives and is probably having a great time meeting all of his ancestors.  I pray that our Heavenly Father will comfort you and your family at this time.

Did I really know the man? Sue, clearly I did. I share so many of the thoughts reflected among here. A kind, gentle, thoughtful man. I miss him.

It has been my privilege to work in business partnership with Joe over the past several years.   All at Epicor have appreciated Joe's warmth, humor and pleasant manner.     He was much liked and will be missed.   Praying that happy memories will comfort Joe's family in time.
Mary King, Philadelphia, PA

I know Joe through his frat brothers . . . what a fun group!   Joe was always  witty, kind and a friend. He is missed by the Rosenbauers!

So sad that Joe was taken away so early. He was a wonderful person. Lived and loved life, family and friends. We will miss him.

I know for certain that we never lose the people we love, even to death.  They continue to participate in every act, thought and decision we make.  Their love leaves an indelible imprint in our memories.  We find comfort in knowing that our lives have been enriched by having shared their love.

 A life long great friend....many memories to cherish...distance and time will never separate ..I will miss you my friend on this side,  .peace be with you.

While we may never truly understand why Joe was called Home so early, it is readily apparent that his time here served many purposes ,as he was a true inspiration to all he met.  Susan, you and your family are and will be in or thoughts and prayers.  Having met Joe when he first joined the Johnstne Family,attending your wedding 22 years ago, and then being in contact continuously over that time I came to consider Joe a very close personal friend,not just a business associate.  I will miss him!   I know you have a very supportive family but if you feel we can help, Dolly and I will be there for you....God Bless.

Joe was a very generous individual and he will be missed. Johstone Supply in Dayton was a neighbor of our company and I got to know him from a business and vendor standpoint.He would always smile and assist when called upon.
Tom Miske
EES Facility Services

Dear Susan and Family, Keith & Nancy Shultz, Nick and Laura Shultz, Stuart Hazlett, and all of Joe's many many friends and co-workers:

Joe was an extraordinary person. He was talented, funny, athletic, generous, and a well-traveled man. Who knew when he and Keith became friends in the first grade that he would mean so much to so many people years later. I liked Joe very much and will miss him as a friend. I will also miss his cooking and good taste in wine! So sad. Taken much too soon. He will be dearly missed.

Kindness is next to godliness and Joe was indeed a kind man. While I did not know Joe outside of business it was easy to tell he was a good man. He will be missed in the Johnstone community.

Susan and your whole family.  You are all in our thoughts and prayers. 
Andrea and Lexi Schultz
Team Ohio

My prayers and kind thoughts are with Susan, Dorothea, Andrea and family members. My thoughts are also with Joe's Johnstone Supply family, as he will be sorely missed by all.... A special thought for Andrea: Joe had returned to work on a limited basis when I first came to Johnstone Supply and your uncle Don always beamed when he talked about the gift of life, which you provided for your brother. May God bless each of you.

Joe, we are going to miss you. But one day, we will see you again! Love you MAN!

Our friend, our teammate, our captain, our hearts are full of love and admiration and wonderful memories of our days together. Your example still serves as a guidepost for those youngsters you still reach through my coaching. You have been and will continue to be remembered through the years.

To those who remain behind, here on the earth who knew and worked with Joe;
one can only guess at how much an impact you will feel not having Joe there to be with you, since I felt an immediate sense of loss when informed of his passing into the next phase of his life.  Joe is indeed beloved here, and even more so in Heaven where his Lord and maker now holds him in his hands.  Joe lived with passion.  He was honorable and a gentleman, and had a big impact on his fellow Johnstone Supply owners and staff.  We can all learn from his example.      Kim Cafferty  Co-owner Omaha Group

Joe was an extraordinary man that taught me by his actions to accept life's setbacks, but to not let them define me.  He lived in the moment and his boundless love for Susan, family, and friends is his legacy.  I am a better person because Joe was my close friend for over 37 years.  I will miss you Joe.  

God Bless you Susan

Our thoughts and especially prayers are with you as we speak. All of the nice reflections on Joe are spot on. He "is" a perfect gentlemen. Peace to you all. Larry Brudi - Birmingham Group

Susan and family, tho I did not know Joe, I feel like I know you both after spending years in Band with your Mom.  I am so sorry for your loss and prayers are with you.  Anita Looper

Susan,
Our memories of time spent with you and Joe brings smiles, and tears. Everyone that had the good fortune to know Joe feels it...he has left an empty place in our heart.
We love you and continue to pray for your comfort.

Although I did not know Joe well, his wonderful sister and mother have been beloved friends and great influences in my life.  My thoughts are with the entire Kratzer and Tacoronte family.

i am so sadden by this...Joe always came into the office and put a smile on my face....i truly adored Joe. Very healthy guy....this was so sudden...he will be truly missed by us~Tamika- Renal Physicians Inc.

Joe was one of my greatest friends and he was my mentor, although he was humble enough that he would have never considered himself to be the latter.  I looked up to him so much - the way he made everyone feel better just by being there, how he laughed and enjoyed each moment, and the competitive fire that burned so brightly within him and was tempered only by his supreme sportsmanship. He was such an amazing person. God, I will miss him so much - please take care of my friend.

Susan, It has been many years since I last saw either of you but have occasionally wondered how you were. Last time I saw Joe was after his transplant. And soon after that I transferred to the South Dialysis unit and lost touch with you but I had heard of you two getting married. Joe was a good guy. I remember working evenings in self care and all of us going out after our shift. That was in the days before "boundaries" came into play. My sympathies go out to you and his family. 25 yrs was good for a transplant but I am sure you would have liked more.

I had the pleasure of meeting and working with Joe thru the Johnstone community. I enjoyed our conversations and we exchanged thoughts and ideas that were helpful to both of our groups.  My thoughts and prayers are with your family.

Susan, I am so sorry to hear of your loss. Cindi Miller called to let me know. It was great to see you and Joe at Carly's wedding and now it is even more special. Joe was a great person and always seemed to have a smile on his face no matter the circumstances. I will keep you and the family in my thoughts and prayers. Chuck Holcomb

So sorry to hear of the sudden loss of Joe...  He was an amazing person and Loved Life.  I and My deceased husband had the pleasure of meeting him at the Games where they competed together in cycling.   I remember Joe as a very kind person and great to be around.  I will say a prayer for you and your family.
Lisa Prado ( Maumee, Ohio )

Susan and the entire Kratzer family is in my thoughts and prayers. Joe was a great man and friend. He was always so positive and pumped about transplantation and the Transplant Games. My heart is heavy knowing I will never get another one of his hugs; but I know that he is watching over all of us with a big smile. Take care.

Susan - please accept my sympathy.  I admired Joe's love of life, his sense of adventure and his genuine caring for those around him.  A truly lovable guy...  He will be missed.

Our hearts break for your loss of such a great man. We have so many great memories with you all and Joe. Our thoughts and prayers are with you.

Andrea and the Kratzer family  I am so sorry for the loss of a dear friend and former student - I last saw and talked with him at the class reunion in Wilmingon - I'll never forget him and still can remember the good trip he had with Mike Barr and I when Furman wanted to recruit them to play football after their senior season - he was a true gentleman and a great guy

Coach Jim Warren

Susan and Family,  My prayer is that God will put His loving arms around you help you through your time of sorrow.  Joe and I became friends when I joined Johnstone Supply in 1993 and has been one of my best Johnstone friends all these years. He was a very good man and he will truly be missed by me especially and by many others....  Harold Stewart  (Bowling Green, KY)

Susan, Dort, Mike, Steve, and Andrea,
Please accept our love and sympathy. I can't imagine how hard it is right now to believe that he is gone. I pray that your many memories of him are a comfort to all of you. May God's presence be very real to you during the coming months. Love, Pat Miller Croasmun and Bill Croasmun

Susan,
Although I didn't know Joe very well I was saddened by his loss as if losing a dear friend. He was such a kind man. My deepest sympathy.

Susan and all Kratzer family, I am so sad to hear of Joe's passing. Joe was so full of life and friend to many. I was just 2 years ahead of him at both BHS and ONU.  I have many fond memories of his bgger than life attitude. I hope you find comfort that God takes the good ones from us early.  The Lord must have a big project that he needs Joe's help with. God Bless.

Our hearts are filled with sorrow and our thoughts and prayers are with you in this time of sadness. May your memories of love shared and happy times together comfort you now and in the days ahead.  Deepest Sympathy, Doug and Tracy Zinn

Susan, you and your family are in our thoughts and prayers.

My prayers go out to each all of you, he was such a great man, his loss will be felt by all. I loved to talk to him, and discuss life.  We were blessed to have him and now heaven is blessed to have him.

Joe, I will always cherish all the cycling time together especially those long training rides preparing for the Alpe d'huez climb in France. Thank you for talking me into that adventure that I will never forget.I will always remember what you said to me on our last ride when I was on the ground having severe leg cramps, "Greg,i don't mind massaging your legs but don't even think about the groin"--Joe, I will miss you dearly my friend ! 
Susan, I am so sorry for your loss, Joe was a wonderful person and was always wearing a big smile---Greg

We are so sorry for your loss.  Your family is in our thoughts and prayers.

I will always remember Joe's sense of humor and positive attitude.  We shared many memories growing up and on the track and field teams in both high school and college.  May the love of family and friends carry you through your grief.

OBITUARY

Joseph E. Kratzer

August 5, 1959 – August 5, 2014

Tobias Funeral Home - Far Hills Chapel

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