JOSEPH VALENTINE MCKENNA

02/14/1925 - 09/21/2022

World War II Veteran

Joseph V. McKenna, loving husband, father, uncle, and grandfather passed away on September 21, 2022 in Sugar Land, Texas at the age of 97. Joseph was born on February 14, 1925 in Englewood, New Jersey to Anna and Frank McKenna. He was preceded in death by his devoted wife of 56 years, Marie R. McKenna; son-in-law James Craig Inabnet; son-in-law Roy Edward Smith; four brothers: James McKenna, John McKenna and wife Pauline, Frank McKenna and wife Margaret, and Edward McKenna and wife Marie; three sisters: Mary Ellen and husband

Jack Coyle, Margarite and husband Robert O’Brien, and Ann and husband Marvin Ross: sister-in-law Rose and husband Frank Cavico; sisterin-law Lorraine and husband Wally Birk; and brother-inlaw Ralph Gentile.

Joseph is survived by his three loving daughters:

Carole McKenna; Ellen

Smith Burris and husband, James Randall Burris; and Marianne Inabnet and fiancé, James Link. He is also survived by his grandson, Michael J. Smith and his wife Mallory; his greatgranddaughter McKenna A. Smith; and numerous nieces and nephews.

Joseph joined the Navy in 1943, when he was 18 years old, during World War Il. He was a Petty Officer in the Navy Air Wing. During World War II, five McKenna brothers were in the military at the same time and all returned home after the war. At one time, Joseph boxed for the Navy and was a good athlete. After three years in the Navy in 1946, Joseph received two medals: American Area Campaign Medal and World War I Victory Medal.

After World War I, Joseph went to St. Michael’s College in Vermont and received a B.A. in Economics. Then, he worked on Wall Street, for Chase Manhattan Bank, in New York City. Joseph met his wife, Marie Gentile, a graduate from Fordham University, who also worked in the stock and bond market for Chase. After they married, Joseph and Marie settled in New Jersey where he became a real estate broker and opened a brokerage agency with his brother Edward. Then, Joseph worked for the Federal Housing Administration for the next 35 years. He was the Chief Appraiser, for the State of New Jersey, of residential and commercial properties. He was also involved, as a Director, in the development of many FHA and HUD housing projects. He met with government officials many times in Washington D.C. to implement new projects and ideas. Joseph was committed to improving the lives of everyday Americans and Veterans. Also, during the late 1950’s, Joseph was chosen by the government to study The Economics of National Security for two years, through the Industrial College of the Armed Forces in Washington, D.C. After Joseph retired from the federal government, he continued to do private appraisals and remained active in SRA - Senior Residential Appraiser.

Joseph and Marie moved to Sugar Land, Texas in 1994 to retire next to their three daughters and sons-in-law and grandson. Joseph was a very religious Christian man who belonged to Holy Trinity Catholic Church in Westfield, New Jersey, where he participated in the Knights of Columbus; and then St. Lawrence Catholic Church in Sugar Land, Texas. Joseph enjoyed his 28 years in Sugar Land going to his grandson’s games, having family dinners, traveling with Marie, and being with his beloved family.

Joseph was the most wonderful, loving husband, father, and grandfather. He was always kind, polite, generous, and thoughtful. He will be greatly missed by everyone who knew him. Everyone loved him so much.

There will be a Catholic service with military honors at Zerkle’s Garden of Memories Cemetery in Kerrville, Texas on Wednesday, September

28, 2022 at 10:00AM.

Joseph will be buried next to his beloved wife Marie and his sons-in-law in a family grave-site.