Joseph S. Straniero

Joseph Salvatore Straniero, loving husband, father, grandfather, and great-grandfather, passed away peacefully on 7/24/2025.  Born September 15, 1930, in Hazlet, New Jersey, when it was still known as Raritan Township. He grew up working the family farm along with his seven siblings. Joe served in the United States Navy for four years during the 1950s. After his military service, he began a career with the Penn Central Railroad as a locomotive engineer, eventually retiring from Amtrak at the age of 62. He then embarked on a second career as a Crossing Guard with Middletown Township, affectionately known as “Crossing Guard Joe”, until he retired at the age of 92 after serving for almost 30 years.

Joe has been married to Emily Kowtko Straniero for the past 68 years, having six children together. Joe and Stan, Bill and Kathy, Rich and Joan, Bobby and Laurie. He also has 14 grandchildren: Billy, Danielle, Laura, Alex, Sam, Richie, Jessica, Sean, Paige, Kaitlyn, Dominick, Jessica, Bobby, and Kelsi; and five great-grandchildren: Wells, Brooks, Dominick, Mackenzie, and Kaylee.  He is also survived by his brother Tony and his wife Glenda, and his sister-in law, Zabelle. 

He was predeceased by his daughter, Diane, and son, Donald; his parents Rosalie Tuscan Straniero and his father, Nicholas; brother Sam and his wife Loretta; brother John, and his wife Kitty; brother Nick and his wife Leona; his sister Ann Canizzaro and her husband, Ben; and sister Lena Pallito and her husband, James; and his brother Gino. 

Joe loved to bowl and tend his vegetable and fruit garden. He also enjoyed spending time with his family. Joe loved working on thousand-piece puzzles and painting landscapes in oil. 

Joe was a member of the Middletown Township Veterans of Foreign Wars, local 2179, a member of the Middletown Elks post 2179, and a member of the Brotherhood of Locomotive, Engineers and Trainmen Union.

Friends and family may pay their respects on Tuesday, July 29th, from 5-8 pm, and again on Wednesday from 10 - 11 am just prior to the funeral service. The Burial and Committal will follow at Fairview Cemetery.

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