Joseph F. DeLuca Jr.

Joseph F. DeLuca Jr., 94, of Ocala Florida passed away peacefully in his home on Friday January 23, 2026. Joseph was born in Lyndhurst, New Jersey to Joseph DeLuca Sr. and Teresa Nicoliello on January 15, 1932. He was raised in a family of six brothers and one sister. Joseph graduated from grammar school in 1949 but never attended high school as he needed to work at an early age to help support his large family. He entered the Air Force in January of 1951 at the age of 19 and served on a base in Alaska as a military radar tech until being honorably discharged in July of 1953. Upon returning from his military service he worked for a short time as an apprentice auto mechanic in a New Jersey Pontiac dealership. He then bought two lots in Lake Hopatcong, New Jersey and built a home on one lot with the help of his father Joseph Sr. and his brother Mikey, and then eventually sold them both. In August of 1956 at the age of 24, Joseph enrolled in Lincoln Technical Institute under the GI Bill and earned his certification as an Air Conditioning/Refrigeration technician. Soon after, he joined the HVAC Union Division of New Jersey installing large commercial refrigeration and air conditioning units in supermarkets which became a lifelong career that he enjoyed doing and was very proud of. Joseph married the love of his life JoanAnn in October of 1959 and after a few years with three children in their first home in Roselle Park, NJ, decided to move to Clark, NJ where they had a fourth child, and stayed until 1998. For many years while in Clark, Joseph and JoanAnn were charter members of an Italian/American club called The Gran Centurion’s in which Joseph would volunteer his time in maintaining their refrigeration units. In the 1970’s, Joseph and his wife JoanAnn, whom was a registered nurse, left their careers to go into business together. They started “DeLuca’s Gallery of Collectables” after a number of years of selling collectable plates and figurines at Flea Markets on the weekends. They experienced many successful years running the business with much help from family members and great friends. A downturn in the economy in the early 90’s along with some unfortunate circumstances caused them to liquidate the business and return to their previous careers. Joseph and his wife JoanAnn retired in 1998 and moved to Delray Beach Florida. They enjoyed fishing, cruising and vacationing in Orlando. In the year 2000, they had a home built in Royal Palm Beach, Florida where they resided for the next 21 years. Joseph enjoyed working on various projects in their “retirement home” such as painting, decorative trim work and tile work over the years. He continued to maintain and improve their home up until the age of 91, doing his own lawn care and painting the outside of their home. Over the last two years Joseph and his wife JoanAnn moved in with their daughter Karen and son-in-law Michael in Ocala, Florida, and sold their Royal Palm Beach home. Joe and JoanAnn were married 65 years when JoanAnn passed on December 24, 2024. Joseph is survived by his brother Raymond DeLuca, sons Joseph DeLuca III and fiancee Belinda Burns, Thomas DeLuca and wife Barbara, James DeLuca and wife Dominie, his daughter Karen Besosa and husband Michael Besosa, his four grandchildren Joseph DeLuca IV, Michael DeLuca, Brian DeLuca, Gabriella Besosa, and his great granddaughter Addison DeLuca. Gathering of family and friends will be held at Roberts Funeral Home West Chapel, 6241 SW State Rd 200, Ocala, Fl 34476 on February 2,2026 from 2 to 5 pm with a short service that begins at 3 pm. Private family burial will be the following day at the Florida National Cemetery in Bushnell, Florida.

Joseph F. DeLuca Jr.

January 15, 1932 - January 23, 2026