The gates of Heaven are guarded by the United States Marine Corps… Semper Fi.
Joe just enjoyed being in the company of others, relentlessly making things happen and solving the problems of the world from behind the bar.
The greatest accomplishment of a good bartender lies in his ability to suit his customer exactly. He’s just a pharmacist holding a red Solo cup with limited inventory, and sometimes you just run into a bartender who changes your life forever. The problem with the world is that they’re just a few drinks behind. Ya see, life’s just like a cocktail; you get what you mix into it. Joseph Tomeo, Jr. put in loyalty, hard work, humor, and strength, among many others. …Don’t know the secret to happiness, but I’m pretty sure it involves the ocean, good music, and not being in a rush to get anywhere. Joe just enjoyed being in the company of others, relentlessly making things happen and solving the problems of the world from behind the bar.
Nothing in this world is forever, not even our problems. So, here’s to the ones that we got. Cheers to the wish you were here, but you’re not. The drinks bring back the memories of everything we’ve been through, and the memories bring back you.
Home is the starting place of love, hope, and dreams. It’s where love resides, memories are created, friends always belong, and laughter never ends. It’s here, on Thursday, October 1, 2026, surrounded by the giant love of Joe’s large family, that the bugles sounded. Day was done, gone was the sun. Joe, all is well, safely rest, God is nigh.
Joe was born in Woodbury and had been a longtime Bellmawr neighbor. His home had contributed to the manpower of our great nation, upholding the ideals of our American freedoms in the United States Marine Corps during Vietnam. Joe was part of the fabric of the community, raising his family and volunteering his time coaching youth football for over 20 years. He enjoyed hitting the links and loved to dig his feet into the warm sand of Strathmere’s beach. Joe was a longtime member and a staple of the Choimer-Trace Memorial VFW Post 8714 in Glendora and the Stetser Lamartine American Legion Post 281 in Chews Landing, where he served as Senior Vice Commander and just owned the bar. Joe made his career as a sprinkler fitter and spent his working years with Joseph Stang in Chester, PA. At home, Joe enjoyed good, classic tunes from the likes of Motown’s greatest, the Temptations, the 4 Tops, and the Commodores, among others, and, of course, just spending time with his family. He’s just a simple family man.
Don’t know the secret to happiness, but I’m pretty sure it involves the ocean, good music, and not being in a rush to get anywhere.
The goal isn’t to live forever. It’s to create something that will. Joe is survived by and will be deeply missed by his loving family. He leaves to cherish his memory his loving wife of 57 years, Susan (nee Higgins) Tomeo. He’s the father of Toby Tomeo, Damian & his wife Kelly Tomeo, Ira & his wife Danielle Tomeo, Monica Ann & her husband Mike DiCiano, and Domenic & his wife Andrea Tomeo. Joe is the proud grandfather of 17 grandchildren and 1 great-grandchild. He is survived by Michael Eckmeyer and Dominic Anderson, his sister Kathleen Tomeo and was predeceased by his brother Michael Tomeo, his sister Margaret Tomeo and his dear friends who were a whole lot more than “just friends”, the late James Barrett and the Late Dan & Cass Cavanaugh.
Relatives, friends, neighbors, Legionnaires, the few and the proud are invited to gather with the Tomeo family. We’ll come together to raise our red solo cups, pay tribute to a deeply loving family man, take comfort in each other, and in honor of those who served on Friday morning between 9:00 am and 12:00 pm at McGee Celebration Creran Funeral Home, 400 White Horse Pike, Oaklyn, where a remembrance ceremony will be celebrated at 12:00 pm.
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