Joseph Jordan

Joseph Patrick Jordan (6/21/37 – 6/30/24) personified the gentleman-attorney, a true Counselor. Long before "lawyer" became a punch line, Joe Jordan became one in 1962 after graduating from Xavier (B.A.,1959) and Marquette (J.D., 1962) because he passionately believed, even after 59 years in practice in and around Toledo, OH, that reasonable people of good faith can reach consensus for the benefit of all. He also always appreciated a good lawyer joke although he could rarely get through telling one before cracking himself up.

Joe Jordan was highly active throughout his life. Golfer, windsurfer, conqueror of the Toledo Club’s over-40, over-50, and over-60 squash tournaments all in a single year. The over-70 title would also have been his had such a division existed. College football player, gym aficionado, tennis player, and lake lover who did not hang up his water skis until his 86th birthday.

But Joe Jordan was so much more than a practitioner of the law, athlete, reader of the encyclopedia, annual wearer of red Christmas pants, admirer of British sportscars, long-suffering fan of the Lions, thinker, Master Craft Captain, lecturer of life skills at the dinner table, and avid supporter of everything XU Musketeers. Most importantly, he was a loving husband for 63 years to Sheila (O’Loughlin), father to five daughters, Papa to 23, and Great-Papa to 13. He never regretted for a moment not having sons and became a beloved and trusted mentor to the sons-in-law he gained over time and the grandsons he presided over in “Papa’s Boy’s Club.” The grandkids knew Papa would do what no one else could including singing them Happy Birthday while standing on his head. Joe took immense pride in his family, even going so far as to famously declare there “was not a dud in the bunch.”

Joe enjoyed endless games of gin, world travel, and lively conversations with close friends, many he had known since his days at Rosary Cathedral and Central Catholic High School (1955). He went about his days living his Catholic faith and quietly helping others where he could, secure in his belief he would reunite in Heaven with his daughter, Jodi, and other family members and close friends whose earthly journeys ended before his.

Joe/ Dad/ Papa will be profoundly missed by Sheila, Jennifer (David), Julie (Doug), (Chris), Melissa (Geoff), Micky (Chuck), Cameron (Cam), Brennan (Mary), Reagan (Michael), Jordan (Drew), Greg (Rachel), Kathy, Mike (Kate), DJ (Claudia), Delaney (Ryan), Devin (Karson), Donnie (Harry), Jordy (America), Kelsey (Dan), Madison (Phillip), Shawn (Michael), Riley (Christine), McKenna (Ryan), Callahan (Graham), Sullivan, Kailey (Patrick), Kerrigan, Jessica (Jake), Kooper, Charlie, Izzy, Lily, Teddy, Mary, Wesley, Sienna, Baby Butler, Smith, Loughlin, Blayne, Josie, and Ozzie, his brother-in-law Terry, sister-in-law Ruth (Bill), and many nieces and nephews.

The family will receive visitors at Walker Funeral Home at 5155 W. Sylvania Ave, Toledo, Ohio 43623 on Thursday, July 11, 2024, from 3 PM to 8 PM. A Funeral Mass will be celebrated on Friday, July 12, 2024, at 11:00 AM at Christ the King Church located at 4100 Harvest Lane, Toledo, Ohio 43623.

Those wishing to offer a tribute are asked to consider the Jodi Jordan Allen Women's Tennis Memorial Fund at Xavier University, a fund created in honor of Joe’s daughter, a former tennis player and fellow proud alumna of XU. To make a gift, please go to the Xavier athletic site at http://www.goxavier.com or contributions may be mailed to Xavier University Athletics, JJA Women's Tennis, ATTN: The Office of Greg Christopher, 3800 Victory Parkway, Cincinnati, OH 45207-7530.

While Alzheimer’s robbed him of many memories at the end of life, Joseph P. Jordan will not be forgotten. And although there will never be another Papa Joe, please join his family and friends in prayer there will be more like him.