Joseph P. Ullrich, 63, of 204 Hewins St., passed away Feb. 18 after a fierce battle with cancer.
Joe was an honorable man who defined the word integrity. He set an example of what makes a great man, husband, father, grandfather, brother, son, uncle and friend. Once you met Joe, you felt as if you had known him your whole life. Joe loved to travel, and visited 54 countries. Wherever he was, people gravitated toward him, and he had an uncanny ability to fit in wherever and with whomever.
Joe was his family’s rock. He was smart, honest, caring, generous and loving. He would watch every Patriots and Bruins game with a house full of buddies. Joe made everything better: Every story was funnier, every drink was stronger, every steak was tastier. He was a lifelong hunter with his brothers, and some of his best memories were from the hunting camp. His family is brokenhearted, but they know they will see him again.
Joe is survived by his loving wife, Brenda (Horsch) Ullrich; daughters Rachel Ullrich, Krista Ullrich and partner Steven Blackwell and children Jacob and Mason, and Mandy Rogers-Thieriot and husband David and children Camden and Charlotte; brothers George and partner Sandy Holst-Grubbe, and Steven and wife Judy and children Victoria, Little Stevie and Cassie; parents-in-law William and Jennie Horsch; brothers-in-law; sisters-in-law; nieces and nephews; and family and friends in the Berkshires and across the country. Joe was predeceased by his parents, George and Sabina Ullrich; and his beloved son Ryan.
Visiting hours will be held Monday, Feb. 24, from 4 to 7 p.m. at the BIRCHES-ROY FUNERAL HOME, 33 South St., Great Barrington, MA 01230. Funeral services will be held Tuesday, Feb. 25, at 11 a.m. with a Liturgy of Christian Burial at Our Lady of the Valley Church, 99 Maple Ave., Sheffield, MA 01257. In lieu of flowers, expressions of sympathy in Joe’s memory may be made to HospiceCare in the Berkshires in the care of the Birches-Roy Funeral Home, 33 South St., Great Barrington, MA 01230. Condolences may be made through birchesroyfuneralservices.com.
