Joseph, dearly loved, and forever missed.
Always the jokester, Joseph was funny, kind and outgoing. He had a loving family, and loads of friends who appreciated the help he offered, his infectious smile, and adorable laugh. He could be found exercising, lifting weights, hunting, boating, enjoying lake life and the sun.
Though he was only 19 when his son, Tyler, now 23, was born, he adored him and was an attentive and responsible father. Joseph worked in sales all day and attended college at night, attaining his Bachelor of Science degree in business. Joseph loved to cook, making steak or BBQ so spicy most couldn’t eat it! He would laugh at them when they tried. He also made spicy deer jerky that his customers at work begged for.
Joseph was equally passionate about his sobriety and being given a second chance to turn his life around. Just a few weeks before he passed, he accepted Christ as his savior and was looking forward to being baptized.
His mother, Nancy, remembers a Thanksgiving Day hunting trip Joseph, his dad, and a childhood friend made. They laid the many pheasants on the back of the truck while they ate their Thanksgiving meal. When they came out later, all the pheasants were gone. On holidays she made five extra pounds of mashed potatoes so there was enough for everyone else… Joseph loved them with brown gravy! Then there was the time at Red Lobster when Joseph got cut off from the “all you can eat” shrimp promotion after downing 150 of them!
Nancy often finds herself standing and looking in the refrigerator just like Joseph did every time he entered the house. Or thinking of how they went all over the state of Kansas for Joseph’s wrestling tournaments, and the numerous family vacations at the beach where they jet skied, snorkeled and ate seafood.
Joseph was close to both his father, Joe, and mother, Nancy, who were his number one fans and biggest supporters. Besides his son and parents, other significant people in Joseph’s life were his former wife, Stephanie, his older sister, Stephanie, and his friends Tim and David. His sister Stephanie, and Joseph shared a reciprocal love and many precious memories. Tim ran the neighborhood with Joseph as a child and they were always together. Megan and David, were friends from adulthood. Joseph also always made time to check in on his three grandparents, even though they lived in Oklahoma City.
Once his substance use disorder seized him, Joseph had severe mood swings and unpredictable behaviors. He hated his addiction. There were concerns that he might hurt himself or others while behind the wheel. “It was difficult trying to protect him,” Nancy stated. The tough love approach recommended by others only made Nancy feel worse. She was fearful, tearful, edgy, and uncertain of what to expect next. Navigating treatment programs was arduous. Some required insurance, others had no beds.
Joseph’s parents are left with post-traumatic stress from navigating Joseph’s illness and from Joseph’s eventual illicit fentanyl poisoning, which took place in their home. What remains is anxiety, social isolation, inability to trust, and guilt. Nancy said, “The loneliness and heartbreak we feel because of his passing is insurmountable.”
Nancy now belongs to a support group that speaks at rallies and churches, educating people about the dangers of street drugs. She stated, “I know my son did NOT overdose. He was poisoned. I want others to know my son’s life isn’t defined by his addiction. I continue to seek justice for Joseph.”
Joseph’s mother, Nancy Solomon, provided the information for this narrative. April 14, 1981-December 1, 2021-Age 40
Portrait Artist: Shawn Faust
Narrative Writer: Barbara Francois
