Joseph J Cubr

October 19, 1937 - March 21, 2020

Joseph John Cubr was born on October 19, 1937 in Detroit, MI, the 4th of 7 children to the late Joseph and Elizabeth (Maly) Cubr. Joe enjoyed a close relationship with his siblings that was deeply rooted in faith and family with traditions that continued throughout his entire 82 years. As a child, Joe loved playing baseball with the neighborhood kids and ice skating on a makeshift ice rink in the parking lot of the church hall next door. Summers were spent at the cottage that his father built in the 1940’s on Lower Straits Lake. With no electronics back then, or even hot water, the family would bathe in the lake or heat water on the stove to wash the younger kids in the kitchen sink. It was a much simpler time spent swimming, catching frogs, picking mushrooms with his mother, playing games, and visiting his grandmother and aunt who stayed in cottages nearby. There were often so many family members gathered, that Joe, his siblings and cousins would sleep on the porch or wherever there was a bare spot on the floor. Christmas dinner gathered around the large table was his favorite holiday tradition. He and his siblings made sure to continue this tradition even as their extended family grew to 100 people or more, thus requiring them to switch the celebration to a banquet hall! Joe graduated from Western High School in 1955 where he played the trumpet; even pretending to play while marching in the Thanksgiving Parade in his later years. Following Detroit sports teams was a hobby of Joe’s along with his passion for bowling, which is where he met his future wife Lucille Ronewicz. Joe waited all the way until the last night of the bowling season to ask Lucy out on their first date, which became a double date with Lucy’s twin sister and her boyfriend. Always a jokester, his quick wit could make you laugh even during the most serious moments. A prime example was when Lucy was hastily getting out of Joe’s car on what was to be one of their last dates or else… when Joe pulled out an engagement ring and said, “Well I guess you don’t want this then?” The two were married on May 14, 1960. Joe stayed firmly grounded in the Detroit area as he and Lucy had a busy life raising their family. His life was not free from suffering, as he worked very long shifts to support his large family. As a truck driver, Joe was critically injured in an accident which rendered him unable to work for over a year, but he resumed driving for US Foods until his retirement in 1999. Joe also endured the pain of losing a child and later his Lucy, who was the love of his life. A devoted family man, Joe spent countless hours cheering on his 5 children, 11 grandchildren, and numerous nieces and nephews, while attending various sporting activities, concerts, graduations, and weddings. Family events often had to be arranged around his busy social calendar! His travels included Caribbean cruises and annual trips up to Mackinac with his siblings where they would hit a different casino every day, gaze out at the bridge lights twinkling over the waters of The Straits at night, and attend the final outdoor mass at Cross in the Woods. In recent years, Joe and all of his children and grandchildren vacationed in South Haven where Yahtzee , Bingo, and The Newlywed Game brought out the fiercest Cubr competitive genes in hopes of winning a coveted pack of Mambas candy or a scratch off lottery ticket. Joe loved the themed dinners complete with props, drinks of the day, and watching sunsets from the bluff, but his eyes sparkled most while sitting in the sunshine on the deck watching his entire family spend priceless time together. Some comments shared by his grandchildren include: • Grandpa was the center of our family. If he was talking, every ear was listening. • He always had an interesting story or a silly joke. • He was so proud that he was the figurehead. Everyone looked up to him and respected him. • He was a man that adored his family and was wholeheartedly dedicated to them and wanted what was best for all of them. • He had a staunch Catholic Faith and a wonderful sense of humor. • He was humble, sweet, endearing, caring, loving, kind, fun, and witty. There are so many good things to say about him. It’s obvious we all thought he was a wonderful person. • He was always up for anything with 11 grandchildren and 9 very spirited grown kids. • He would participate in anything you asked him to do, and always with a smile on his face. • Watching him, watching all of us at family gatherings with a smile on his face, you could always tell how much he loved us and that family was the most important thing in the world to him. • He made sure his candy dishes were always filled with Swedish Fish and Sour Patch kids when we came over • Everyone thought he was ‘my blue-eyed twin’. • Overpaying us for raking leaves and shoveling snow, but peering out the window while we did it. • Going to Elmhurst, playing Yahtzee and taking him to the corner store for scratch off lottery tickets every Friday. He also always ordered coffee with every meal. • Always a sharp dressed man, no matter what the occasion and would tell you, you ‘look sharp’ whenever you would dress up. • He instilled the importance of family in all of us and was lowkey the funniest of us all A faith-filled family man with a kind heart, killer blue eyes, and a sharp wit are the enduring hallmarks of the man we were blessed to call Pops! ________________________________________ Joe is survived by his children: James (Mary Jo), Mary, Tim (Lori), Lori (Brian) and Daniel (Kathryn) Grandchildren: Kyle, Kelly, Colin, Sarah, Abby (Donnie), Nathan, Bailey, Natalie, Christina, Mason and Avery Siblings: Toni, Dorothy, Josie, Frank, Betty, and Barbara Countless extended family members