Joseph John Walkonis

Joseph John "Joe" Walkonis, age 75, passed away unexpectedly on February 1, 2023, at his home in St. Augustine, Florida. Joe was born on October 15, 1947, in Detroit, Michigan to parents Victor John and Annie Eunice (Hurst) Walkonis, and beloved mother, Dolores Ruth (Galecki) Walkonis. He joined the US Navy right out of high school and served as a barber during the Vietnam war aboard the USS Neches. After his discharge, he lived in San Francisco, California for a short time and later settled in Garden City, Michigan. Joe attended the Detroit Barber College, then worked for Conrail and raised a family of three children before beginning what would become a long and successful career in real estate. Joe initially began his real estate career as a realtor and made a career move to real estate appraising. He worked as an appraiser for many years, and in the mid 1990's he moved to St. Augustine where he owned and operated his own business, Florida Coast Appraisal. In his youth, Joe competed in bicycle marathons and racquetball while also refereeing basketball. He continued to enjoy an active life in St. Augustine where he played paddle tennis and cards, was an avid Boston Celtics fan, and enjoyed the company of his birds, a Cockatoo and Macaw. Joe was a lifelong Catholic and attended the Cathedral Basilica of St. Augustine. He had a very soft personality and loved to make people laugh with his dry humor and sarcasm. Joe loved his work and was a workaholic, but his greatest joy was his family. He was a loving father, brother, grandfather, uncle, and friend to many, and he will be deeply missed. In addition to his parents, Joe was preceded in death by his brothers, Bobby and Victor. He is survived by daughters, Kimberly Trudnak and her husband Michael of Neptune Beach, FL, Kelly Cobb and her husband Kyle of Jacksonville, FL.; a son, John Zachary "Zack" Walkonis of Jacksonville, FL; a sister, Lore Walkonis and her husband Garland of Garden City, MI,; a brother, Gary Tamagni of Ocala, FL; grandchildren, Maya, Kaison, Elliana, Avery, and Lorelai; nieces, Loren, Elena, and Veronica; his former wife and friend, Diane Walkonis, and many cousins and extended family members. A funeral mass will be held at 9am on Friday, February 10, 2023, at the Cathedral Basilica of St. Augustine. A visitation will be held from 5pm to 7pm on Thursday, February 9, 2023, with a prayer service beginning at 6:30 pm at St. Johns Family Funeral Home. For those unable to attend the prayer service, it will be live streamed at https://iframe.dacast.com/live/2a7a09ae1c0559a83ef537e05e6a14a6/2aae7d5f-98fd-a9e6-32a7-b774547cf42c. St. Johns Family Funeral Home oversees arrangements.

Joseph John Walkonis

October 15, 1947 - February 1, 2023