Obituary of Joseph "Joe" Francis Kiernan

Joseph Francis Kiernan, Jr. 72, of Fernandina Beach, Florida passed away on July 22, 2020 at the Bill and Jane Warner Community Hospice Center. The cause of death was acute myeloid leukemia. Joseph was born in Salem, Massachusetts on September 19, 1947 to the late Joseph Francis Kiernan, Sr. and Evelyn (Caron) Kiernan. He is survived by his loving wife, Kathleen, with whom he shared 40 years of marriage, and 46 years of friendship, siblings Linda Butler of Peabody, Massachusetts and Janice Atherton of Kittery, Maine, nieces Katie Barber, Melissa Carloni, Jamie Derkosrofian, Keegan Hoey, Michelle Hoey, nephews Jason Butler and Michael Hoey, as well as many grandnieces and grandnephews spread from coast-to-coast. A proud Veteran of the United States Navy, Joseph was very active with the American Legion, Post 316, where he served a term as SGT At Arms, and the Loyal Order of Moose in Jacksonville, Beach Florida. He was an avid supporter of disabled veterans and literacy programs for the elderly. In his early career he worked in law enforcement in Massachusetts and in California, and later started a very successful home remodeling business which allowed him to relocate multiple times when needed for family career changes. He loved life, his family, making people laugh, the beach, and making a difference in the world. A private and loving celebration of a life well lived will be held at the beach at a later date. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to Community Hospice and Palliative Care: https://www.communityhospice.com/give/