Obituary of Joseph Milton Lacey, Jr.

Joseph Milton Lacey Jr., age 69, died peacefully on April 8, 2021, at the Lehigh Valley Cedar Crest Hospital, Allentown, PA.  He was born on January 4, 1952 in Phillipsburg, NJ to his loving parents, Joseph Milton Lacey Sr. and Alberta (nee Ayers) Lacey.

Joseph married the love of his life, Diane Marie (nee Droppa) Lacey in July of 1972 at the Washington Alliance Church in Washington, NJ.  Joseph and Diane resided in Washington, NJ and moved to Oxford, NJ in 1984.  He was a devout Christian who loved his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. He loved to sing praises and was a member of the church choir.  He was an elder at the Phillipsburg Alliance Church in Phillipsburg, NJ, also worshipped at the Faith Discovery Church in Washington, NJ.

Joseph worked for 27 years at Thomas J. Lipton in Flemington, NJ in mechanical maintenance. Upon closure of the plant, he worked at Johanna Farms for 11 years.

Together, Joseph and Diane raised two loving daughters, Dawn (nee Lacey) Cabrera and Renee (nee Lacey) Gendeloff.  The family grew over the years with the addition of the joys of Joseph’s life, his 9 grandchildren.

Joseph enjoyed gardening, especially taking care of the flower beds and herb gardens he grew, alongside his wife.  He took great pride in his lawn and enjoyed keeping it immaculate.  His family knows him as the “Grill Master”, who enjoyed cooking outside for family functions.  He loved birds and had numerous bird houses outside.  What made him especially proud was when one of his grandchildren would make a new bird house.  He found a home for every birdhouse made.  Joseph was a collector of everything, coins, books, NASCAR cars. He liked sports and was a New York Yankees and New York GIANTS fan.  NASCAR was a big part of his life and enjoyed watching it on TV and attending live races.  He traveled for many years with Diane and enjoyed trips to the Caribbean and cruises.  His favorite vacation spot was also where he and Diane honeymooned, Williamsburg, Virginia.  Over the years, the Lacey family took many enjoyable trips to Williamsburg, Va.

Whatever was going on at the time could be set aside when it came to his family.  Joseph’s family was everything to him.  He was a good, godly man who loved his wife, Diane, with all his heart. He loved both daughters and his 9 grandchildren he was blessed with.  Joseph loved attending his grandchildren's activities and especially loved swimming with them in the pool.

Joseph was a loving husband, son, father, grandfather, brother, and friend to many.  He will be sadly missed by all who knew him.

Joseph is survived by his mother and father, Alberta (nee Ayers) Lacey and Joseph Milton Lacey Sr.; his wife, Diane Marie (nee Droppa) Lacey of Oxford, NJ; daughters, Dawn (nee Lacey) Cabrera and husband Mario of Bethlehem, PA and Renee (nee Lacey) Gendeloff and husband Joseph of Bethlehem, Pa. He is also survived by his brothers; Rick Lacey and wife Dee of Washington, NJ and Garry Lacey and his wife Lisa of Frenchtown, NJ; sister, Connie (nee Lacey) Ihling and her husband Chuck of Bethlehem, Pa; his grandchildren, Zachary, Aiden, Lacie, Logan, Madison, Caitlyn, Bonnie, Thomas, and Christopher.

A public visitation will take place on Saturday, April 17, 2021 from 10:00 am until 12:00 pm at the Faith Discovery Church, 33 Brass Castle Road Washington, NJ 07882.  A spiritual service will follow in the church at 12:00 pm with Pastor Jerry Scott officiating.  Funeral arrangements are under the care of Knoll-DeVoe Funeral Home & Cremation located in Washington, NJ.  No services will take place at the funeral home.

In lieu of flowers, donations in Joseph’s name may be made to the Faith Discovery Church, 33 Brass Castle Road Washington, NJ 07882 or the Phillipsburg Alliance Church, 255 Lincoln Street, Phillipsburg, NJ 08865.