Joseph N. Bratek

Bluffton, SC

Joseph N. Bratek, 89, of Bluffton, South Carolina, passed away peacefully on September 2, 2022 at CentraState Medical Center in Freehold. Joe was born in Raritan, NJ, on September 7, 1932, the son of Joseph and Pauline Bratek, and husband of Gertrude Trudy Bratek.

Joe graduated from Bound Brook High School in 1950. Following service in the US Navy as a Petty Officer Second Class during the Korean War, he attended Miami University in Ohio and received a Bachelor of Science degree in Business and a minor in Industrial Management.

He was employed by RCA, Burrough, Hoechst Celanese and Clariant Corporation in Management positions all in New Jersey. He was a Vice President of the Somerset Valley Management Club, a Bridgewater NJ Club Master, a member of the Somerville Area Jaycees and the American Legion of Bluffton, SC. He attended Saint Gregory the Catholic Church in Bluffton. In 2001, he retired from Clariant Corporation while living in Lanoka Harbo, NJ and moved to Sun City, Hilton Head in 2004. In Sun City, he was active in Bowling, Bocce, Coin club and traveling. The one thing he enjoyed the most was spending quality time with his family especially his grandchildren.

He is preceded in death by his beloved parents, Pauline and Joseph Bratek, his wife, Gertrude Trudy Bratek of 60 years, and two brothers, William and Ralphie Kohlepp.

Surviving are his three dear sons, Keith and wife Pamela of Hampton, NJ; David and wife Kathleen of Jackson, NJ; Rodney and wife Stacy Lapkin of Peoria, AZ; a brother, Robert Bratek of Washington State, and three cherished grandchildren, Ashley, Daniel, and Alexander.

A viewing will be held on Thursday, September 8, 2022 from 4-8pm at the Branchburg Funeral Home 910 RT. 202 South, Branchburg, NJ 08876.

Funeral services will start with a prayer on Friday, September 9, 2022 at 9:15am at the Branchburg Funeral Home. Mass will take place at 10am at Blessed Sacrament Church in Martinsville, NJ. Burial will follow at Resurrection Cemetery.

Memorial contributions may be made in Joseph's memory to The American Heart and Lung Association https://www.lung.org/.