Joseph C. Tarantino

Joseph C. Tarantino, 87, of Quakertown passed away December 4, 2012 in St. Luke's Hospice House, Bethlehem. He was the loving and caring husband of Connie (Heydt) Tarantino. They were married 35 years in November. Born in Quakertown he was one of twelve children born to the late Frank L. & Anna (Asta) Tarantino. Before his retirement in 1991, he was the last owner/operator of the family business F. L. Tarantino & Sons Memorials in Quakertown which began in 1916. Joe was a 1942 graduate of Quakertown High School where he learned to play the bass fiddle and played in the high school band. Joe continued his passion with music having his own band for over 25 years "The Music Masters". He also played in the Army Band, Sharps and Flats Band and Mora Club Band. Joe was a lifetime member of the North Penn Gun Club, the Military Order of the Purple Heart, the Disabled American Veterans Charter PA7, the American Ex-prisioners of War, Congressionally Chartered. Joe served his country proudly in the Army Infinitry 106th Division during WW II, and was a POW in the Battle of the Bulge. He also was a Purple Heart and Bronze Star recipient, and a member of the Department of Veterans Affair former POW and the American Legion Post 242 in Quakertown. He was a member of Trumbauersville Betterment and Social Club, and enjoyed and loved playing poker and hunting. Joe was a member of St. Isidore's Catholic Church in Quakertown and was a Charter member of Knights of Columbus Cardinal Stritch Council 4649. As told by his family Joe was a loving husband, father, grandfather, and great grandfather. In addition to his loving wife he is survived by their children Gary Tarantino and his wife Elaine of Randolph, NJ, Joseph M. Tarantino and his wife Sandra of Knox, PA, Debra Wahl and her husband Charles of Quakertown, and Terrence L. Solomon and his wife Carol of Allentown. Daughter in law, Pamela Solomon of Northampton. Two sisters Lucy Moody of Arkansas and Mary Weyland of Florida. He was also survived by and enjoyed his eight grandchildren and seven great grandchildren. He was predeceased by a son Joseph V. Solomon, three brothers William, Frank, and John, six sisters Sue, Josephine, Ann, Claire, Grace, and Eleanore. A Mass will be held on Monday, December 10, 2012 at 11:00 A.M. at St. Isidore's Catholic Church 2545 W. Pumping Station Rd. Quakertown, PA 18951. Calling hours will be held on Sunday evening December 9th from 7:00-8:30 P.M. in the C. R. Strunk Funeral Home, Inc. (www.crstrunk.com) 821 W. Broad St. Quakertown and on Monday from 10:00-11:00 A.M. in the church. In lieu of flowers contributions can be made to Disabled American Veterans Chapter 84 c/o American Legion 610 E. Broad St. Quakertown, PA 18951 or to the Purple Heart Service Foundation P.O. Box 49 Annandale, VA 22003. Service Information A service summary is not available