Joseph Valent

Joseph Valent

Age 80 years, passed away peacefully on Friday, October 7, 2022, at home surrounded by his loving family after a hard fought battle with cancer. Joe is survived by his dear wife of 50 years Elizabeth "Betty", his children: daughter Kathy and son Joe Jr. (Taryn), his granddaughter Kennedy, his five siblings in Slovakia: Maria, Gusto (Maria), Lydia (Martin), Marta (Dusan), and Vierka (Jozef), his sister-in-law Helena, his three godchildren Kristina Kamensky, Thaddeus and Nikolas Loduha, and other relatives and friends both here and in Slovakia. He was preceded in death by his parents Ernest and Matilda, brother Bohumil, and brother-in-law Martin. 

Joe was born in Czechoslovakia (Slovakia) and immigrated to America in 1969. He spent 30 years working at AO Smith/Tower Automotive as a machine repairman. Joe was a soccer enthusiast and an avid cyclist with the medals to show.

Joe played professional soccer in Czechoslovakia. He also coached the Bavarian junior boys' soccer teams and played with the Bavarian Old Timers' team.

For the past 20 years, Joe enjoyed bicycling, competing locally and at the national senior level. He currently holds the Senior Olympics record for the 5K cycling time trial (6 minutes and 59 seconds) in the state of Wisconsin in the 50 and over age group. 

Joe was a social and very outgoing type of person and enjoyed meeting new people and keeping in touch with current friends. At least daily, he would workout and socialize with friends at Innovative Fitness in Franklin. When he wasn't at the gym, he was out biking. He even continued biking all during his chemo treatments including his last ride which was on Aug. 27th when he biked 20 miles that day making a grand total for the year of 715 miles!

Joe was proud of his Slovak heritage and belonged to several local Slovak organizations: St. Ann's Society Branch 376 FCSLA, Slovak Catholic Sokol Wreath 93, Slovak League of America Milwaukee-Assembly 20, Louise M. Yash WI District, and Wisconsin Slovak Historical Society.

Special thanks to the staff of Froedtert Hospital, Jelacic Funeral Home, and Horizon Hospice who enabled Joseph to spend his remaining time at home with us.

Visitation will be held for Joe on Wednesday, October 12, 2022, from 4:00pm until 7:00pm at Jelacic Funeral Home, 5639 West Hampton Avenue, Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Additional visitation for him will be held on Thursday, October 13, 2022, from 10:00am until the time of Mass of Christian Burial at 11:00am, all at Christ King Catholic Church, 2604 North Swan Boulevard (92nd Street), Wauwatosa, Wisconsin. Interment will follow at Holy Cross Cemetery in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

Please click on the video tribute bar below to watch Joe's funeral Mass.

"May his soul and the souls of all the faithful departed, rest in peace. Amen"