Joseph R. Areminski Sr.

Branchburg, NJ

Joseph "Joe. Raider" R. Areminski, Sr., 86, of Branchburg, NJ, passed away on Friday, January 16, 2026. Born in Raritan, NJ, raised in Manville, Joe resided in Branchburg since 1964.

After graduating High School, Joe went on to work in management for American Cyanamid for 25 years. Known for his sense of humor, Joe didn't know a short story, but enjoyed sharing his experiences with others. "Let me tell you a long, short story" he would say.

During his early years, Joe spent his summer vacations in Wildwood Crest with his family. In later years, camping, tubing, and swimming in the Delaware River was the choice for summers, at Thirsty Deer in Port Jervis, with his children, their friends, and extended family.

He was a lifelong fan of the NY Yankees and NY Giants. Joe and his friends were into quarter mile track car racing in neighboring states, and created a car club, with his friends in Manville, to help distressed drivers in snow, with tire changes, and accidents. He organized and held a dance, in Manville, to raise money for Sister Kenny's Foundation studying Infantile Paralysis (Polio).

Though suffering from illnesses such as asthma, bronchitis, and polio, during his childhood, his first love was baseball and softball. He won an MVP trophy in the first season of Little League Baseball in Manville. A "legend" in softball he played/coached/managed men's and women's championship softball teams, such as Boro Liquors, Joe's Raiders, The Underground, Tex's Liquors, Chester House, Doc Martin's and various other teams well into his 70's, in multiple leagues, as long as his nephew Brett Gerard was playing. He even coached/managed his wife's US work softball team in a game with their counterparts, in Montreal, winning the game by 1 point because of Joe's managerial expertise.

Joe and his wife, Ellen, enjoyed driving across the US traveling to 48 of the 50 states. They enjoyed the freedom, with a destination in mind, but finding unexpected scenes and beautiful vistas driving the back roads and meeting interesting people along the way. "It wasn't a successful trip unless you have a story to tell, either good or bad."

He is preceded in death by his beloved parents, Marie and Joseph R. Areminski, his stepfather, George Antos, his sister, Rosalyn Gerard, his brother, Edward Areminski and his wife MaryAnn, his previous wife, Viola McDonough, and his sister-in-law April Kanas.

Surviving are his loving wife, Ellen (nee Niver) Areminski, two cherished daughters, Holly (husband Rick) Lori; and his dear son, Joey; his sister-in-law Dolores Holroyd (husband Ron); and brother-in-law Bill Niver (wife Lucette).

A memorial service will be held on Saturday, January 24, 2026 from 11am-1pm at the Branchburg Funeral Home, 910 Rt. 202 South, Branchburg, NJ 08876. Committal is private.

In lieu of flowers the family requests that donations be made to The Gates Foundation for Polio https://www.gatesfoundation.org/our-work/programs/global-development/polio; Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America https://aafa.org/ ; or your local Little League.