Joseph B. Verna, Jr.

Joseph B. Verna

Passed on September 18, 2025

Joseph B. Verna Jr. age 89 of Nashville TN, previously from Springfield Virginia, passed away Thursday September 18, 2025. He was born on June 6, 1936, in Philadelphia, PA to Agnes Silk and Joseph Verna Sr. He attended St. Joseph’s College where he majored in economics and entered the Airforce in 1958. Later completing his Master’s in Economics.  Joseph married Margaret (Peggy O’Dell) on March 14, 1959. He was a war hero in Vietnam and received several awards, among them the prestigious Airman Metal and Bronze Star.  He was career military and moved numerous times, spending the last years of his military career at the Pentagon in Washington DC, his focus was munitions and logistics and was a member of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. He retired in 1985 and entered the private sector. He worked for Hercules and ATK , he then consulted for that company for years.

He was preceded in death by his mother Agnes, his wife Peggy, his sister Pat Deere and his third daughter Nicole Verna-Debruin.  He survived by his daughters Danielle Verna, Christine (husband Louie Blasiole), and his son Vincent (wife Stacie Verna).  He had 7 grandchildren: Ashley Sheppard-Blasiole (husband Cody Sheppard), Nicholas Blasiole (wife Michaela) , Taylor, Leah, Addison Verna and Delaney and Joseph DeBruin.  He had 1 great-grandchild Gianna Nicole Sheppard

On a more personal level, Dad played basketball and enjoyed watching football. He was proud of his manicured lawn. He loved music, especially those story telling country songs. He often played his guitar, turned on the old-time reel- to- reel tape and sang along. He was an avid reader.

As he grew up in Philly, he and Mom would go dancing and boy could they dance! They were so good! At one point they entered a dance contest comprised of the parents of the swim team members and won, coming home with the prize of 45 albums, we were so proud. We often moved the kitchen table in our Springfield house and turned the oldies station on so they could dance and entertain us children. We loved it!!

Nothing made him happier than seeing us and Mom giggle and laugh at his antics.  He had a fun sense of humor and gave deadpan delivery of spot on one liners and would just wait for the reaction, which we always delivered.  He was tender and tough in equal measure. He always did what was necessary to get the job done. He showed us how to navigate life, especially when things got tough. He was seemingly unbreakable and surely hung the moon – how else could it get there?!  He was our safety net , our rock, our voice of reason. Calmness when things were chaotic.

Dad was giving of his time. He was one of 6 men at Nativity Parrish who raised money to have the new church built. He taught religion classes there as well. He would quiz us children on the theme of that week’s sermon, just to make sure we were paying attention in church. He had strong beliefs and lived by them. Always open to hugs and affection. He could talk to anyone about anything. He was even a father figure to our friends, and they loved him for it. He had patience when needed, perseverance, intelligence and the best sense of humor. He tried never to miss any of the sports we competed in, he thoroughly enjoyed watching and cheering us on. He wrote for the local newspaper about our soccer games and the players were all kinds of excited to see their names in the paper. We were on a swim team for many years and Dad was the chief timer at our swim meets, while Mom helped with writing up ribbons.

He was the type that woke you at 1 am to go play in the snow with our orange snow discs – knowing we did not have to get up for school the next day. Of course he joined in the fun too. He played cards with us and board games, he taught us how to play board games that were well above our knowledge level but stuck with it until we got it.

In his later years, he was Mom’s caregiver when she had Alzheimer’s Disease. There was never a day he wasn’t involved in her care. He could still make her laugh, even though at some point she did not know who he was. The love between them was clear. He regularly donated to about 80 charities and would get calendars from all of them, resulting in us children getting 4-5 calendars every time we visited. His focus was on the Alzheimer’s Association and the St. Judes Children’s hospital.

We were set up with an excellent foundation in life, loved unconditionally and cared for until his dying day. Mom sure fell for the right guy!  We were immeasurably proud of our father and loved him to that moon he hung and back!

As a grandfather he couldn’t believe his luck, he had 7 grandchildren and found everything they did interesting and funny. He was proud to see his legacy live on in them. He adored each of them and wanted to know what they were doing in their life and was quick with advice and so much love. They shared special handshakes and secret funnies.

It is inconceivable that he is no longer with us, in our hearts, we just assumed he would live forever. He touched more lives than we will ever know. I hope he knows how much we loved and respected him!

In lieu of flowers, a donation to the Alzheimer’s Association and St. Judes would be appreciated.