Joseph Paul Simonette (1935-2025)

Longtime Monroe resident and contractor Joseph Paul Simonette, 90, passed away May 1 at an assisted living facility in Belleville.

Joe was born to Italian immigrants in Reynoldsville, West Virginia in 1935 and graduated from Victory High School in Clarksburg, West Virginia, in 1953. After a brief stint working as a bricklayer, he served in the Marine Corps.

Joe returned to West Virginia after his military service and began working as a manager at various H.L. Green dime stores in the late '50s.  H.L. Green was later absorbed by the larger McCrory's company, which owned the McClellan's store in Monroe, where Joe was transferred in 1969.

Joe and his family subsequently moved to Madison and then Louisville, Kentucky, but returned to Monroe in 1977.  He worked in a number of trades around town, doing home repairs, painting, woodworking and cabinet-making. He retired in the late-2000s.

Joe never lost his love for working with his hands. After retirement he continued to both build and restore furniture, and was also adept at gardening and landscaping. He also was devoted to his dogs Lupe and Spike, and enjoyed spending his mornings drinking coffee at Baumgartner's.

Joe was preceded in death by his parents Larry and Margaret Simonette; brothers Pete, Sam, Jim and Nick Simonette; and sisters Teresa Simonette and Josephine Naus.

He is survived by his son Matthew Simonette (David Morck) of Evanston, Illinois, and former spouse Nancy Simonette of Monroe. We thank his neighbors, the Bergemann family, for their friendship and kindness, as well as Joe's many friends in Monroe.

There will not be a funeral service but a commemoration of Joe's life will take place this summer. In lieu of cards and flowers, we respectfully request donations to Jacob's SWAG Fund, 2222 6th St., Monroe, WI 53566 or jacobsswag.org. Condolences may be shared at www.newcomerfuneralhome.net