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Joseph Edward (“Joe”) Poist, age 83 of Tuscaloosa, passed away peacefully on July 30th at home, surrounded by his family, after a long, courageous battle with cancer. Joe was preceded in death by his parents, John D. Poist, Sr, and Mary E. Timmins Poist, sister Loretta M. Poist, and son Michael G. Poist, MD. He is survived by his high school sweetheart and wife of 62 years, Rosalie K. (“Rose”) Poist, brother John D. Poist, Jr of Hanover, PA, sister Carolyn P. Leonard of McSherrystown, PA, Son James E. Poist, MD (Pam), daughter Andrea Poist Evans (Jason), and daughter-in-law Virginia S. (“Ginny”) Poist. “Big Daddy” is also survived by his grandchildren Brittany Poist Kizzire (Clay), Lauren Poist Hartzog (Chevy), Alexandra Poist Moody (Kyle), Anna Poist Heatherly (Alex), Courtney Lang Poist, Joseph Mason Poist, Isabella Grace Evans, Michael James Evans, and great grandchildren Cash Kizzire, Mary Mike Kizzire, Baylor Moody, and Jack Heatherly.
Joseph Edward (“Joe”) Poist, age 83 of Tuscaloosa, passed away peacefully on July 30th at home, surrounded by his family, after a long, courageous battle with cancer. Joe was preceded in death by his parents, John D. Poist, Sr, and Mary E. Timmins Poist, sister Loretta M. Poist, and son Michael G. Poist, MD. He is survived by his high school sweetheart and wife of 62 years, Rosalie K. (“Rose”) Poist, brother John D. Poist, Jr of Hanover, PA, sister Carolyn P. Leonard of McSherrystown, PA, Son James E. Poist, MD (Pam), daughter Andrea Poist Evans (Jason), and daughter-in-law Virginia S. (“Ginny”) Poist. “Big Daddy” is also survived by his grandchildren Brittany Poist Kizzire (Clay), Lauren Poist Hartzog (Chevy), Alexandra Poist Moody (Kyle), Anna Poist Heatherly (Alex), Courtney Lang Poist, Joseph Mason Poist, Isabella Grace Evans, Michael James Evans, and great grandchildren Cash Kizzire, Mary Mike Kizzire, Baylor Moody, and Jack Heatherly.Visitation will be from 6:00 to 8:00 pm on August 4, 2023 at St. Francis of Assisi University Parish. A rosary service will precede the visitation, starting at 5:30 pm. A funeral mass will be celebrated on August 5, 2023 at 3:00pm at St. Francis, the family will have a private graveside service.
Pallbearers will be Mason Poist, Michael Evans, Clay Kizzire, Alex Heatherly, Kyle Moody, and Chevy Hartzog. Honorary pall bearers will be Tuck Suit, Dr. W.O. “Bebo” Fitzpatrick, Dr. Brian Wilhite, and Joe’s buddies from St. Francis (Rick, John, Mike, Robert, Sammy, Rusty, and Reggie). The family would like to give special thanks to Dr. Jeff Anderson, Dr. Charles Gross, Dr. Marty Conry, Mary Kerr, Sandy Singleton, Linda Lochman, Mary Ann Lopacki, David Fuhrman, The Remmert family, and Joe’s dear friends of St. Francis.
Joe was born in Edgegrove, Pennsylvania on November 14, 1939 and graduated from Delone Catholic High School in 1957. He attended The College of William & Mary on a football scholarship, and was an academic all America and Distinguished Military Graduate. Before graduating from college, he married the love of his life, Rose. He then served our country as a captain in the U.S. Army for four years, before beginning his long career in the food and beverage wholesale industry. He and Rose made multiple moves across the country before settling in Birmingham, Alabama in 1974. Their next move took them to New Mexico, where they spent 17 years, before moving back to Alabama in 2004. Joe was completely devoted to his family, and was a patriarch in every sense of the word. He enjoyed football Saturdays, projects at church, and preparing meals for the family (Sunday family dinners were his crown jewel). He had a remarkable gift for remembering names, and never met a stranger. He had a smile and a hug for everyone he encountered. He will be dearly missed.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Hospice of West Alabama, Catholic Social Services of West Alabama, or St. Francis of Assisi University Parish.
