Joseph Edward Kewley II, 75, of Newtown died December 20, 2016 with family at his side, after a long journey of decline with Parkinson’s Disease.

Joe was dearly loved by his wife of 53 years, Sharon Sibble Kewley, his son David Kewley (Anne Cole) of California, his daughter Heather (David) Larrabee and grandchildren Daniel, Grace, Hannah and Nathan of Massachusetts, as well as by his sister Janet Kewley Lawther of Georgia. Several others; nieces, nephews, brothers- and sisters-in-law, and cousins also loved Joe. His parents Thomas and Marjorie Kewley, and his brother Frederick Kewley predeceased Joe.

Joe was a resident of Newtown from his arrival in 1984. He was active with Sharon at Walnut Hill Community Church in Bethel, and before that at Newtown Congregational Church. He owned and operated Nutmeg Cleaners in Danbury, Bethel, and Newtown from 1986 until 2002. After selling his business, he worked at Trader Joe’s in Danbury until 2011.

Joe is remembered as a genuinely loving, friendly, sweet, positive, kind, humorous, and generous man. He engaged people with his warm smile and easy conversation, and was always ready to help someone with a need. He took great joy in his family, and they in him.

Joe was born and grew up in Corning, New York, graduating from Corning Free Academy. He earned his B.S. and M.S. in Mechanical Engineering at Cornell University. He and Sharon met and married while they were both at Cornell. After graduation, they moved to Ohio, where both their children were born. Joe worked for General Electric Lamp Division in Ohio and Mississippi, Duracell in Tennessee, and Voltarc Technologies in Connecticut before he bought Nutmeg Cleaners.

A golfer since he was a boy, Joe played locally with a group of retired friends known as the Twisters. He also loved music, singing tenor in barbershop groups and church choirs.

Joe was dearly loved, and is deeply missed. Along with profound sadness, his family feels relief and comfort that his suffering has ended and he is now with his Lord and Savior. They are thankful for the many happy memories they have of shared love, humor, and music, right up to Joe’s final days.

A celebration of Joe’s life will be held on Sunday January 15, 2016 at Walnut Hill Community Church, 156 Walnut Hill Road, Bethel, CT 06801 at 2:30 PM.

Instead of flowers, memorial gifts in Joe’s name may be made to Walnut Hill Community Church as above, or to the Parkinson’s Disease Foundation to help end Parkinson’s, online or to PDF at 1359 Broadway, Suite 1509, New York, NY 10018.

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