Joseph “Joe” Madison Rackley, Jr., 78, of Pulaski, TN passed away Saturday, September 3, 2016 at Vanderbilt Medical Center surrounded by his family.
A celebration of life service will be held at 3:00 p.m., Tuesday, September 6, 2016 at Bennett-May- Giles County Funeral Home with Pastor Lee Stevenson officiating. Visitation will be from 11:00 – 2:00 the day of the funeral. Burial will follow at Fogg Cemetery in Pulaski. Memorials may be made to Fogg Cemetery % Connie Rackley, 355 Hicks Cut Road, Pulaski, Tn 38478 or First United Methodist Church, 200 West Jefferson Street, Pulaski, Tn.
Joe was born on February 4, 1938 to parents Joseph Madison “Joe Matt” Rackley, Sr. and Jane Zuccarello Rackley. Joe was an Eagle Scout and served as scoutmaster. He graduated from Giles County High School and then attended Vanderbilt University earning a degree in Civil Engineering. Joe worked at NASA before creating his own company, Rackley Systems, a comparative rating software company, in 1979. Joe was inducted into the Robert E. Musto Tennessee Insurance Hall of Fame in 2010, was a member of the Pulaski Exchange Club, served on the SunTrust Bank Board of Directors, and was a member and president of the St. Barth Condominium Association of Board and Directors in Destin, Florida. He was also a life-long member of First United Methodist Church in Pulaski.
Joe was an avid fisherman, hunter, golfer and sportsman. He was a pilot and loved boating. In his retirement, he spent countless hours in his workshop and loved spending time with his grandchildren. He also enjoyed all forms of technology, traveling, reading, the ocean and his dog Missy.
Joe is survived by his wife of 38 years, Diane Moore Rackley, sons, Matt and his wife Connie, Bill and his wife Traci, and daughter, Karla Gardner and her husband Michael. His is also survived by nine grandchildren, one great-grandchild, and his brother, Bill Rackley and wife Salter of Carthage, TN.
Bennett-May-Giles County Funeral Home in charge of arrangements for Joseph “Joe” Madison Rackley, Jr.
