Joseph A. Adams, 74, a resident of Shavertown, passed away unexpectedly on Wednesday, January 18, 2017, at his home.

His wife, best friend, and the true love of his life was the late Kathleen M. “Kathy” (Conwell) Adams, who passed away on August 16, 2013. Joe and Kathy were blessed to share 49 wonderful years of marriage.

Born on May 26, 1942, in Wilkes-Barre, Joseph was the eldest of six children born to the late Joseph Adzema and Margaret (Derzak) Adzema.

Joe was a graduate of the former Saint Nicholas High School, Class of 1960. Following high school, he went on to further his education at Kings College where, in 1964, he received his Bachelor’s Degree in Sociology. Later, he went on to attend the University of Scranton where he received his Master’s Degree in Counseling.

A United States Army Veteran, Joe honorably served his country as a Specialist during the Vietnam War Era, and was stationed in Germany for the majority of his active service. He also served for many years as an Army Reservist with the 109^th Field Artillery, Kingston.

Prior to his retirement, Joe was employed for 30 years as a Disability Adjudication Supervisor for the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.

A man of great faith, Joe was a longtime member of Saint Therese Roman Catholic Church, Shavertown, where he formerly served as an Extraordinary Minister of the Eucharist.

Over his lifetime, Joe was a member of multiple community organizations and held various offices in Saint Conrad’s Young Men’s Society, Wilkes-Barre; the Elks Lodge 109, Pringle; the American Legion, Post 672, Dallas; the Back Mountain Wrestling Club; and the Back Mountain Cultural Center.

Joe was a proud father who was always there to support and encourage his children. He believed that through travel, his children would be able to expand their horizons by experiencing new cultures, so he and wife enjoyed taking their children on trips to many different places over the years, creating many happy memories along the way.

In addition to his parents, Joseph and Margaret Adzema, and his wife, Kathy, Joe was preceded in death by his nephew, Christopher Lewis.

Joe is survived by his children, Kathleen Pellegrin and her husband Timothy, of East Stroudsburg; and Thomas Adams and his fiancée, Jen Griffiths, of Hanover Township; his grandchildren, Madison Pellegrin, Christian Pellegrin, Kaitlyn Adams, Brooke Adams and Thomas Adams, Jr.; his brothers, Chuck Adzema; Mickel Adzema and his wife, Marilyn; and James Adzema and his wife, Sharon, all of California; his sisters, Mary Ann Lewis and her husband, John, West Wyoming; and Peggy Pritchard and her husband, Mike, York; as well as his many nieces and nephews.

Relatives and Friends are respectfully invited to attend the funeral which will be conducted on Tuesday, January 24, 2017, at 9:15 AM from the Wroblewski Funeral Home, Inc., 1442 Wyoming Avenue, Forty Fort, followed by a Mass of Christian Burial to be celebrated at 10:00 AM in Saint Therese Church, 64 Davis Street, Shavertown, with the Reverend James J. Paisley, his Pastor, officiating.

Interment with the Rite of Committal will follow in Mount Olivet Roman Catholic Cemetery, Carverton, where Military Honors will be accorded by the United States Army.

Family and Friends are invited to call on Monday, January 23, 2017, from 5:00 to 8:00 PM, at the funeral home.

For additional information or to send Joe’s family an online message of condolence, you may visit the funeral home web-site www.wroblewskifuneralhome.com.