Joseph Donato

Joseph "Joe" F. Donato, age 79, of Millcreek, passed away on Monday, March 19, 2018 at Sarah Reed Senior Living. 

He was born in West Hickory, PA on November 17, 1938 a son of the late Millie Gruteria Lord and Alphonso Donato.

Joe graduated from West Forest High School in Tionesta, PA, served in the U. S. Army National Guard and was a licensed barber.  He was also a machinist working for Pendleton Tool Company and then Autoclave Engineers until his retirement. 

Joe was an avid wine maker and enjoyed sharing his wine with his family and friends. He was always working to improve the bottling process of his wines.  He also enjoyed providing pig roasts for many of his family and friends and created and built his own roasting trailer. Joe was a great story teller and was a very social person. He was a member of many social clubs in the area and was also Past Exalted Ruler of the Erie Elks Lodge #67. 

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by a brother, Thomas Donato and many aunts and uncles.

He is survived by his wife of 54 years, Barbara Tirpak Donato; three sons, Mark of NC, Brian of NC, and Paul of NH; two grandchildren, Nathanial and Nicholas; and two great grandchildren, Jordan and Audryna; and a half-sister Tina Phillips. 

Friends may call at St. Jude Church, 2801 West 6th Street, on Saturday from 1:00 pm until the time of the Mass of Christian Burial at 2:00 pm with Rev. Jason Feigh officiating. 

Burial will be private.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Shriners Hospital for Children 1645 W. 8th Street, Erie, PA 16505 or the 2^nd Harvest Food Bank 1507 Grimm Drive Erie, PA 16501.