Joseph Gundermann Jr.

Joseph Albert Gundermann

August 12, 1933 - January 26, 2023

Joseph Gundermann, 89, of Bluffton. SC passed away Thursday, January 26, 2023 at home with family by his side.  Joe was born August 12, 1933 in Brooklyn, NY. To the late Joseph Gundermann, Sr and Rosemary Brascher Gundermann.

Joe graduated from Chaminade High School in Garden City, Long Island, NY and went to Siena College on a basketball scholarship.  Nicknamed ‘Gundy’ by his teammates, he captained their team in his senior year and was later inducted into the college Hall of Fame.  While in college he met and married the love of his life, Jacqueline (Jackie) Overfield Gundermann.  After college he enlisted in the Marines for 4 years.  They had six children, Joe (Kathy), Terri (Peter), Pete (Monika), Patti (Brad), Tom (Melissa), and John.

Pete and John predeceased him.

Joe has 11 grandchildren- Courtney (Tom), Lindsay (Jeffrey), Tyler (Hannah), Laura (Ryan), John, Patric (Valerie), Christian (Suellen), Bradley (Jenna), Jaclyn (Conor), Erin (Jeff), Alexa (Connor) and 2 step-granddaughters from Melissa- Kaitlin and Kristen.

Joe also is survived by one brother, Don (Jan) and one sister (Rosie) and many nieces and nephews.  He is predeceased by two brothers Richard and Robert.

After the Marines, Joe was drafted by the Milwaukee Hawks professional basketball team.  However, he declined due to the low wages and his ever growing family. Instead his career started out as a high school English teacher and basketball coach at Sachem High School on Long Island, NY. His final career move was in 1964 when he decided to go into the insurance business with his dad. His dad started in the business in 1937. They became partners in Gundermann and Gundermann Insurance, currently located in Huntington, NY.  Shortly after his brother, Robert, joined them for a few years and then later his youngest brother, Donald.  Two of Joe’s sons, Joe III and Tom, also made insurance their career joining in 1977 and 1985.  Joe was President of Gundermann and Gundermann Insurance until his retirement in 1999.

It meant a lot to give back to those less fortunate and to his community. He was active in his church and also the following organizations- -Chairman of the Board, Huntington YMCA -Past President ,Huntington Town Chamber of Commerce -Past President, Independent Insurance Agents of Long Island -Past President , Long Island Athletic  Club - Past President and over 40 year member, Rotary Club

Joe and Jackie raised their family in the Dix Hills/Huntington and Lloyd Harbor area and then retired to a golf community in Hilton Head, SC area in 1999.  His family was the most important part of his life.  He enjoyed spending time with them on family beach trips or regular ski trips to their NY ski home, out west or abroad. Another love of Joe and the family is golf and travel. Jackie and Joe golfed, skiied and travelled touring and cruising extensively all over the world.

Joe, better known to his adoring large family as “Poppie” was a man who they would say loved many things, but especially his wife “Gram”, family, God, travel, gardening, Piano classical music, golf, feeding birds, and ice cream.

A number of years ago he told his daughter that he was the luckiest man alive, and that he was so grateful for the wonderful life he got to lead and the amazing wife and family he had.

The family will receive friends from 4:00 pm until 6:30 pm with a 6:00 pm Prayer Service at Sauls Funeral Home, 90 Simmonsville Road, Bluffton, SC on Friday, February 3, 2023.

The Funeral Mass will be celebrated at 10:30 am, Saturday, February 4, 2023 at Saint Gregory the Great Catholic Church.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Compassus Hospice, 10911 N. Jacob Smart Blvd. B., Ridgeland, SC  29936.  http://compassuslivingfoundation.org/give/

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