Joseph Camese

A home-going celebration for a faithful Christian soldier.
Joseph E. Camese, age 87, of Saginaw, MI, went to be with the Lord Friday, October 17, 2014 at MagnumCare of Saginaw Health and Rehabilitation.
Deacon Joseph was born on October 31, 1926 in New Orleans, Louisiana. He was the second of three children born to the late Joseph E. Camese, Sr. and Ella (Alexander) Camese.
He was fiercely devoted to God and family, and a long standing member at Greater Coleman Temple (now the World Outreach Campus) where he was a loyal and trusted friend of his pastors, the late Dr. Hurley J. Coleman, Sr. and Dr. Hurley J. Coleman, Jr., and a dedicated mentor and friend to his fellow deacons.
Ever the faithful servant, he worked wherever there was a need and humbly accepted the titles of Chairman Emeritus of the Deacon Board and Board Trustees member. He was also a member of the male chorus and general church caretaker and keeper of the keys until his health no longer permitted such duties.
Part of his professional career included the United States Army where he was a truck driver. He served during World War II and received the Victory Medal and Occupation Medal.
He made the decision to move from Louisiana to Michigan in 1966 after accompanying his then pastor, Elder Clayton, to a church convention where he met Pastor Hurley J. Coleman, Sr.
He later met and married Dorothy Shields. They wed on January 25, 1969. This union would produce two children, or crumb-snatchers, as he would affectionately call them, Kevin (The boy/Dooly) and Nicole (The goyle/Mouse). This rounded his family to five with Ronald (The boy).
Joseph had a passion for cooking, especially his signature dishes of red beans and rice, seafood gumbo, seafood dressing, potato salad and sweet potato pies.
He also had a unique language of love for family and friends that ranged from nicknames to expressions that we will always cherish.
In Michigan, he worked at Fruehauf Trucking, Combustion Engineering and Baker Perkins, before retiring due to a visual impairment. Throughout his life he loved to travel, hunt and fish. He specialized in fixing transmissions and enjoyed spending time with family.
He was a very loving husband, father, brother and uncle and everyone will miss him dearly.
He is survived by his wife, Dorothy; sons, Ronald (Wandie) Camese, Kevin (Shena) Camese and daughter Nicole (Kevin) Ferguson; his grandchildren, Tonya Camese, Keisha Camese, Floyd Camese, Jr. (all of Louisiana), Ronnie Camese, Daniel Camese, Sarah Johnson (all of California), Lauren Camese (Saginaw, Michigan), Bria Ferguson, Kevin Ferguson II, Mya Ferguson, Skiyler Ferguson and Payton Ferguson (all of Ann Arbor, Michigan); sisters, Emily Manuel (New Orleans, Louisiana) and Ernestine Alford (Atlanta, Georgia); many nieces and nephews; as well as many other extended relatives and treasured friends.
Joseph was preceded in death by his parents, twin baby brother and son, Floyd Camese, Sr.
Visitation: Paradise Funeral Chapel Obituaries
Service Plans: Paradise Funeral Chapel Obituaries