Obituary of Joseph Sansone

Colonel Joseph "Joe" Sansone died peacefully at home surrounded by his loving family on July 20, 2015 in Polson, Montana at the age of 74. Joe was born on October 9, 1940 in Lockport, NY. He graduated from Lockport High School in 1958, and from Niagara University with a Bachelor and Master degree in 1963. He immediately enlisted in the United States Air Force, and attended Officer Training School. In his first assignment to Jacksonville Air Force Base in Jacksonville, Arkansas he met the love of his life, Sharon Pollett. Over the next 30 years they travelled the World with the US Air Force including tours in Viet Nam, Iran, England, Germany, the Pentagon and various locations throughout the US. During this time the couple welcomed 2 children Joe and Rob. Joe retired from the Air Force in 1990. After retiring as a full Colonel from the Air Force Joe began a teaching career, as a teacher of ROTC at the high school level. He taught in Texas, California and 14 years at Aviano Air Force Base in Aviano, Italy. He recently retired to Polson, Montana. Joe was an accomplished teacher, coach and avid golfer. He had a great sense of humor and loved to laugh and to make others laugh, but he was especially passionate about his family, faith and country. He commanded his troops with compassion and humor and taught his students in the same manner. He was an active and dedicated member of the Catholic Church. Joe is remembered as a kind, funny, person who loved life and was loved by everyone. One friend summed up Joe's life this way "he was the most wonderful man, with one of the largest hearts ever"! Joe is survived by his wife Sharon Sansone, his children, Joe (Lisa) Sansone of Polson Montana and Robert (Shannon) Sansone of Hawthorne, CA; 6 grandchildren Jackson, Gwendolyn, Weston, Ashley, Sage and Finley; his brothers Sam (Diane) Sansone of Lockport, NY and Jim (Rosemary) Sansone of Olcott, NY; brother-in-law, Al Wilson of Wilson, NY; mother-in-law, Faith Pollett, and brother-in-law John Pollett (Carolyn) of Sherwood, AK. He is also survived by several nieces, nephews, and cousins. He is preceded in death by his father Joseph V. Sansone and mother Sophia Sansone of Lockport, NY and his sister Rosalind Wilson of Newfane, NY. All are welcome to attend and celebrate Colonel Joe Sansone's life. A viewing is scheduled for Friday, July 31 at Prudden & Kandt Funeral Home in Lockport, NY from 2 - 4 p.m. and 7 - 9 p.m. A funeral Mass is set for Saturday, August 1 at St. Joseph's Oratory on Market St. at 10 a.m. Joe will be buried with full military honors at Arlington National Cemetery at a later date. In lieu of flowers, those wishing to honor Joe's memory may make a donation in Joe's name to the Roswell Park Alliance Foundation, P.O. Box 63, Buffalo, NY 14240 or to a charity of one's choice. Condolences can be sent to Sharon Sansone on her Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/sharon.sansone.54?fref=ts&ref=br_tf . The family would like to thank everyone for their prayers and especially to all of Joe's caregivers.