Joseph Oliver Wadsworth
July 2, 1975 - December 9, 2006

The most brilliant, talented people often face so many more challenges than the rest of us, more hurdles to overcome before they can find their way. Joe Wadsworth was one of those special people, so talented, yet so troubled. There is so much about this world we don't understand, nor are we meant to. Joe was taken too soon, but his life lives on in all who knew him today.

Joe's story began on a hot summer day in 1975, in the Lake Michigan town of Muskegon, Michigan. Those were such tumultuous times in this country, which was still recovering from the Vietnam War and sorting out the troubles of the Watergate scandal. Yet on July 2, 1975, as America was preparing to celebrate its independence, Dennis and Ellen (Westerhouse) Wadsworth had other reasons to celebrate, with the birth of a baby boy at Hackley Hospital, a son they named Joseph Oliver.

Joe was the third of four children in the family home, joining adopted brother Dan, his sister Pam and younger brother Steve. The family lived on 10 acres of land on Wilson Road, between Fruitport and Nunica, which was perfect for keeping the kids occupied, with plenty of wildlife and blueberries to pick. Joe's mother worked as an RN at Hackley Hospital, while his dad worked at Whiteman Manufacturing. The kids loved to visit dad at work, bringing him lunch from Wayne's Deli, and watching the boats float by on Muskegon Lake.

In 1979, Joe's parents divorced, and his mother took Joe and his siblings and essentially raised them alone, as his father battled alcoholism and his own childhood demons. Joe took the divorce hard, as he connected the most to his dad, and looked and sounded just like him.

Joe was a very active child, who his mother admits, "tested every parenting skill I ever had!" He was also an exceptionally brilliant young boy. His grade school wanted to hold him back in the third or fourth grade, but after aptitude testing, they determined that Joe was actually a genius! He was quickly moved into the gifted and talented program, where his talented could blossom. "God blessed me with three bright children," his mom said, "and then there's Joe."

The most talented of us often face the biggest hurdles, however, and in the 10th grade, it was discovered Joe also had a learning disability. He was always a hyperactive, stubborn child, which prevented an earlier diagnosis. His mom fought hard to get him the help he needed. His genius was obvious by then, though. He was enormously talented musically, and played viola in the orchestra at Mona Shores High School. His instructor said he could have been first chair, if he'd put his mind to it, but Joe's mind was elsewhere, and everywhere. Girls, games, pranks, ... anything but practice. Unless it was karate, of course.

Joe took karate for nearly five years, and eventually attained the rank of black belt. His younger brother would hold boards and bags for him to hit, complaining all the while, "For you it might be practice, for me it's getting clocked in the head!"

Sadly, Joe was dealt a difficult loss in 1992, while he was in high school, after his dad was murdered by two teens looking for trouble. His dad had health problems, and didn't survive the beating. Joe took it so hard, understandably, coupled with his own fear of turning out like his father did, as everyone told him he would.

Joe withdrew, quit karate, and got into occasional trouble. He began having severe headaches, and began taking painkillers, even as a teenager.

His mom had to bail him out of jail once, also, after he and friends spent a night toilet-papering houses and other mischief. They led the Norton Shores Police in a footrace, but the police caught Joe and his track team friends, to which Joe asked sarcastically, "How many of you fat asses did it take to catch us, anyway?"

Joe was punished by not being allowed on a planned ski trip, which the avid snowboarder was looking forward to. Joe had a passion for boarding well into his 20s, and even went out West to snowboard, too.

After high school, Joe began working at Pizza Hut, where he met a beautiful young girl named Rukshana Ilahi. The two dated for seven years, even surviving her going away to college. They were married in May of 2000, although their marriage was troubled from the start. They divorced in 2002, but shared custody of Morgan, the beloved boxer she gave Joe for Christmas one year. He loved that dog dearly, truly the love of his life.

After the divorce, Joe withdrew even further, and suffered severe depression. He became addicted to painkillers and other drugs, as he battled his inner hurdles. He became content to sit at home, playing video games and reading fantasy fiction, two of his favorite hobbies.

In the summer of 2005, his life appeared to change for the better, after his sister Pam and her husband Russ adopted a beautiful baby girl from China named Wen Lu. Joe and Wen Lu really bonded, and it seemed to energize him, and give him hope of one day having a family of his own.

His career seemed headed in the right direction, as well. He had worked for Domino's Pizza for 10 years in management, often taking over franchises that needed help improving. In the summer of 2006 he found work at Herman Miller through a temp agency. It seemed as though Joe's life was on the right track. Sadly, he died Saturday, December 9, 2006.

Joe was the rarest of men, so brilliant, yet troubled, so talented, yet challenged. There is so much about this world we can't understand, but this much we do: Joe was a gift to us all, a gift we will love and cherish forever. He will be greatly missed.

He is survived by his Mother, Ellen Wadsworth of Muskegon; dog, Morgan; sister, Pam (Russ Curcuru) Wadsworth of Kalamazoo; 2 brothers, Dan Wadsworth of Muskegon, Steve Wadsworth of Muskegon Heights; niece, Wen Lu Curcuru; grandmother, Ethelyn Westerhouse of Grand Haven; an aunt, uncle & cousins; ex-wife Rukshana Ilahi. He was preceded in death by his father, Dennis G. Wadsworth & grandfather, Oren Westerhouse, Sr.

Services will be held for Joe on Friday, December 15, 2006, 1:00 PM at Clock Chapel-Muskegon. You may visit the family on Thursday, 2-4 & 6-8 PM at Clock Life Story Funeral Home - Muskegon. Memorial donations may be made to the family.

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