Joseph T. Colla

Joseph T. Colla, Age 80 Years. Longtime Resident of Milwaukee, Mequon and Currently of Andrews, North Carolina. Passed to eternal life surrounded by his 3 girls on Sunday March 31, 2024. Joe was born on March 13, 1944 in Milwaukee to Alfred and Josephine (Nee D’Acquisto). Beloved husband for 58 years of Judith (Nee Enbring). Proud and loving Father of Jennifer (Greg) Jung and Stephanie (Darren) McRae. Devoted PaPa Joe of Dillon and Nolan McRae and step grandfather of Cory and Mathew Jung. Brother of Thomas (Joan), JoAnn (John) Kubowicz, Alfred (Diane) and Christopher (Dawn). Brother-in-law of Deborah (Mike) Kuklinski. Also survived by nieces, nephews, other relatives and many wonderful friends.

Above all else, Joe’s life was about family (la Familia). His “girls” Judy, Jenn and Steph and his “boys” Dillon and Nolan (for them he will always be PaPa Joe) were the focus of his being, including all the extended family of Collas, D’Acquistos and Enbrings. Joe’s dry sense of humor, good natured demeanor and overall friendliness endured him to all. Joe’s career path was with the Evinrude Motors Company (Outboard Marine Corp.). He started in 1963 as a machine operator but quickly became a gear technician of note. He moved through the ranks to become a Methods Engineer and eventually the Methods Supervisor at Evinrude. His talents did not go unnoticed by the Corporation where he relocated to the Headquarters in Waukegan, Il and then on to a new manufacturing facility in Andrew NC as the Manufacturing Engineering Manager. Joe retired from OMC in 1999 in Milwaukee, as not only a member of the Commodores Club but also the Admirals.

Joe’s other passion in life was drum and bugle corps. Starting at age 13 as a snare drummer with the Racine Boy Scouts Corps. When the family moved back to Milwaukee in 1961, he joined the Milwaukee Militaries and then the Starlites Corps’. In 1963 he joined the Racine Boys of ‘76 Senior Corps. At this time Joe became interested in joining the ranks of judges for corps contests. He joined the Central States Judges Association out of Chicago, as well as the All-American judge’s association, Wisconsin Chapter and was a founding member of the Federation of Contest Judges. When a new national organization of drum corps, Drum Corps International (DCI) started up in 1972, Joe was selected to be a percussion judge for their contests. That started a long and brilliant relationship as not only a judge at their world championships but working with them on contest management and judge administration. That relationship led to Joe being inducted into the DCI Hall of Fame in 1991.

We would be remiss to not include two other people (and families) that are deep friends of Joe/Judy and his family. Starting with his joining the Racine Scouts at age 13, George Smullen (now Doctor Smullen retired) and then; in Milwaukee, David Richards (fellow DCI judge and Hall of Fame recipient) were more like brothers to Joe than just BFF’s. Friendships that last for over 60 years are not to be taken lightly.

Visitation will be held on Saturday, April 20, 2024 at Lumen Christi Catholic Church (2750 W. Mequon Road Mequon, WI 53092) from 11-12 Noon with Mass of Christian Burial at Noon. Private Interment.

Lazarczyk Family Funeral Homes is Proudly Serving the Family.