Obituary of Joseph A. Brancato Jr.

Joseph A Brancato, Jr., 65, of Adams, passed away at home on Monday, July 24, 2023 where he had been under the care of his family and Hospice of Jefferson County. Born in Oakland, NJ, Joe enlisted in the Air Force when he was 17, serving honorably for three years. After leaving the service, he was a self-employed contractor, and was always happy to help friends and family with projects long after he left the construction field. Joe was an avid sportsman. He held a Master Captain’s License and was a NY-licensed hunting and fishing guide in the Henderson area. He operated Joe B’s Guide Service and Memory Makers Charter Service, through which he formed lifelong friendships with many clients. He also cleaned fish at Henchen Marina and Fishing Camp for several years. In 2022, he crossed off a bucket list item, catching a marlin while fishing off the Baja California coast. Joe especially enjoyed sharing his love of fishing and theoutdoors with his children and grandchildren. He was a dedicated volunteer for the Disabled Veterans of Jefferson County, serving as both a coordinator and a driver, ensuring fellow veterans had transportation to their medical appointments. Joe is survived by his beloved wife, Betty Atwater; his sons Christopher (Kimberly) Atwater, Daniel Atwater, and Eric Loucks (Paige Barnish), and his grandchildren Justin, Jacob, Jaxon, Kezlyn, Allana, Danny Jr, and Gabriel. He was predeceased by his parents, Joseph and Angela Brancato. There are no calling hours. A celebration of Joe’s life will be held later this year. Arrangements are with the Piddock Funeral Home Inc, Adams, NY. Those wishing to honor Joe’s memory may do so by donating to Hospice of Jefferson County, 1398 Gotham St, Watertown NY 13601, or to the Syracuse VA Medical Center, 800 Irving Ave, Syracuse NY 13210. Condolences may be posted at www.piddockfuneralhome.com