With profound sadness, we announce the peaceful passing of Joseph J. Formentin, Jr. on May 6, 2026, at HarborChase of Riverwalk in Rock Hill, SC. He was 80 years old.

Born in Detroit and raised in Lincoln Park, Michigan, Joe was a man defined by his hard work and dedication to his family.  A proud veteran of the U.S. Marine Corps, he served with honor in the Vietnam War. Following his military service, Joe spent 37 years with Ford Motor Company before transitioning into a well-earned retirement. 

Joe was immensely proud of his Italian heritage and enjoyed sharing stories of his childhood and family history. He often shared the story of his father, who served in the Italian Navy during WWII. While in the Navy, his father was aboard an Italian military vessel that sunk off the coast of Africa. His dad survived and managed to swim several miles to shore. He was captured as a POW by the British military and sent to Fort Wayne, where he was eventually offered the opportunity to become an American citizen. 

Joe’s relationship with his wife, Karen, began while he was serving in Vietnam; though they had never met, the two became close pen pals and soon discovered they grew up in neighboring Michigan cities and shared mutual acquaintances. Above all, Joe’s greatest pride was his family. Even in his final days, he never missed an opportunity to express to others the love he had for his two daughters. He found true peace during his retirement at his lake-front cottage in Michigan, where he enjoyed the solitude of woodworking and spent countless hours in his garage meticulously organizing and reorganizing his thousands of tools. 

A familiar face at the local VFW, Joe cherished the many family picnics and community events held there. He also looked forward to annual hunting trips with his close friends, many of whom were fellow veterans who shared their bond of service. Known for his outspoken nature, Joe’s legendary one-liners and jokes will be forever missed by those who knew him. 

He was preceded in death by his beloved wife, Karen (Mulroy) Formentin; his eldest daughter, Jennifer (Formentin) Renaud; and his parents, Joseph and Julia (Dellapenna) Formentin. Joe is survived by his youngest daughter, Carrie (Formentin) Marshall, and her husband, Bryan Marshall; his brother, John Formentin; and his sister, Regina Formentin. He leaves behind a legacy of laughter, service, and an unwavering devotion to his family. The family would like to extend their sincere appreciation to all HarborChase and hospice staff, for the supportive and compassionate care provided.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to The SemperFi & America’s Fund. Which provides Lifetime support to our Nation’s Heroes. 

SemperFi & America's Fund.