Joseph John Forkl, III, 73 of Kinston passed away Thursday, August 24, 2023, at ECU Health Medical Center in Greenville.

A Memorial Service will be conducted Tuesday, September 19, 2023, at 1pm at Faith Lutheran Church, 709 W. Vernon Ave., Kinston, NC.

Joe was born in June of 1950 in Buffalo NY. Raised on a farm in Colden, NY and attended the local school. After school he was excited to enlist in the military and joined the US Air Force, before being drafted, in 1968. While in the military he served in Vietnam, Desert Storm, and Operation Iraqi Freedom. He retired after 33 years of service in 2008 from the 914th Air Refueling Wing as a Senior Master Sergeant. Once retired he and his wife Mariann moved to North Carolina to be full time grandparents. He took the most pride in this last career. Teaching his grandchildren everything he knew.

Joe had a love of the outdoors and continued that love by hunting, fishing, and upkeeping his lawn better than a Masters Golf Groundskeeper. While not a scholar of Astronomy, he did have an obsession with gaseous matter.

He had a passion for serving the community and continued that service by volunteering as a Kinston Sentinel, an AHA CPR and First Aid instructor, and was extremely active in the Church. A jack of all trades, Joe was always tinkering in the garage, and loved to fix things.

He is survived by his beloved wife, Mariann (nee Kalinowski); sons, Joseph Forkl IV, Timothy (Dixie Jo) Forkl, daughters, Beth Ann (Anthony) Strong, Elizabeth Forkl; grandchildren, Ryan (Cristina), Evan (Alexis), Devin, Kaitlyn, Fox, Adalind, Hunter, Kyrstein, Payton, Brianna, Zion, Joe, Julius; Great Grandfather of Gabriel, Liam. Joe is also survived by several nieces and nephews.

In addition to his parents, Joseph and Dorothy Forkl II, Joe is preceded in death by his brothers, George, Robert, and Dale; sisters, Shirley, Sylvia, and Robin.

In lieu of flowers memorial contributions may be made to Faith Lutheran Church, 709 W Vernon Avenue, Kinston, NC 28501 or Holland Legion Post 607 1 Legion Dr. Holland, NY 14080.

Arrangements made by Edwards Funeral Home & Cremations. Online condolences may be expressed at www.edwardsfhc.com.