Joseph F. Romano

Joseph Romano, age 84, passed away peacefully at Ascension Medical Center on April 6, 2025. Joe was born in Racine on May 16, 1940, son of the late Frank and Christine (Nee:Porcaro) Romano. Joe was a proud graduate of St. Catherine’s High School “Class of 1958.” Upon graduation, he went on to study at the University of Wisconsin – Racine Extension. Joe started working in high school as a butcher for Matranga’s Grocery Store, where he met his first wife, Anna Matranga. Joe and Anna were married on September 29, 1963. They raised four children and were together until Anna’s death in 2000. Joe was employed for many years at Walker Manufacturing in Racine as a salesman, travelling throughout the Northeast and Midwest selling Walker exhaust systems. While at Walker, he was part of their running club, competing in local races throughout Wisconsin. One of Joe’s proudest moments was competing in and finishing the Milwaukee Lakefront Marathon in 1981. In his later years, Joe worked locally for CCB Technologies, also in sales. Every year, Joe and Anna would take the children to Devil’s Lake in Baraboo, where they would rent a cabin and spend the week on the beach enjoying some wonderful family time, and making memories that would last a lifetime. Joe was an avid golfer, fueled by his success in high school, where he was an integral part of the team that won the state championship in his sophomore year. Throughout most of his life, Joe maintained a single digit handicap, and he would spend most Saturday mornings at Johnson Park, playing in their men’s group. After retirement, you’d often find Joe with his friends, Joe Porcaro, Frank Maritato, and Don Cicero golfing together at Ives Grove. Joe was a 60+ year member of Roma Lodge, spending countless hours with friends and family members at the lodge and at their annual festival enjoying great Italian food. The friendships that developed from Roma Lodge would continue late into life as Joe and many of the guys would get together on Tuesday mornings for coffee. Additionally, Joe will be missed by the Charles St. Cigar Club, where he was a founding member. He enjoyed many afternoons there smoking a cigar with friends, including his brother, Nick. Joe took extreme pride in his children and grandchildren spending time attending any sporting events or extracurricular activities they took part in. He liked nothing more than getting together with the entire family and sharing great food and discussing what was going on in everyone’s lives.

Joe was also blessed to have met and married Rosemarie (Hurlimann) Romano following Anna’s passing. Joe and Rosemarie had almost 25 years together and enjoyed spending time with each other’s families, attending church together, walking at the mall, attending concerts at the zoo, and going out to eat, especially at The Sausage Kitchen every Sunday after church! Joe became another dad and grandpa to Rosemarie’s family, especially her son Steve, who loved traveling, attending sporting events, and smoking cigars with Joe.

Joe’s journey on earth was one marked by family, love, and his unwavering faith in God. He enjoyed his weekly bible study with his men’s group at Calvary Chapel Racine. Joe was well versed in the bible and lived his life as a servant of Jesus.

Joe will be profoundly missed by his children, Carol (Keith) Sobotka, Frank (Lynn) Romano, Gina (Clint) Wisialowski, and Greg (Lisa) Romano: his grandchildren, Madison (Jabari) Cooper, PJ (Grace) Sobotka, Jake (Isabelle) Romano, Christina Sobotka, Zach (Ashley Lawler) Romano, Bayli Wisialowski, and Talia DeBartelo. He will be greatly missed by his brother, Nick Romano.

Joe will also be dearly missed by Rosemarie’s family and numerous friends which included Steve and Sue Botzau and their children Steven Botzau, Andy (Missy) Botzau, Jackie (Justan) Lemke, and their grandchildren Anthony, Stephanie, Rylee and Mason; Peter Nelson and his children Kody (Brittney) Nelson and Kevin (Andrea Veron) Nelson.

In addition to his parent’s and his first wife, Anna, Joe was preceded in his death by sisters-in-law, Charlotte Romano, Donna Chambasian, and Margaret Hay.

A church service celebrating Joe’s life will be held on Monday, April 14th at 11:30AM at Calvary Chapel Racine, 9410 Durand Ave., Sturtevant, WI. with Rev. Robert Nettles officiating.

Visitation will be held the morning of the service between 10:00 – 11:30, with a Roma Lodge service to be held during that visitation at 11AM.

The family would like to extend a special thanks to Dr. Gullberg and the numerous doctors and nurses at Ascension, and the caregivers at Lakeshore Siena for their compassion and care they provided in Joe’s final days.

In lieu of flowers, memorials to Calvary Chapel Racine have been suggested.