Joe Rakus, aka ballroomdancer on TMP, passed on Jan 12, 2025 according to his sister-in-law. For those here attending Historicon, Cold Wars and Fall In, you probably saw or spoke to him.
He was a customer of mine for over 23 years. Joe and I initially connected as he almost always wore a Penn State shirt. I struck up a conversation as I am also a Penn State Alumni.
Joe would come to my booth and see Bruce from CompanyB and I and talk WW2.Joe was a really big WW2 fanatic and was encyclopedic in his knowledge about WW2 tanks and vehicles.
The last few years he had been diversifying his collection into other periods (probably longer than a few years.) I joked with him that he must have bought everything made for WW2 already. He always told me "not everything as there is always more!"
The last time I spoke to him was at Fall-In 2024. He was getting over a cold and looked more frail than at Historicon. He had lost his brother in April 2024 and he used to go to Historicon with him and his wife every year. I know that hit him pretty hard.
Joe, I hope you are finally gaming with all those miniatures and tanks with your brother.
Godspeed.
His obituary (this site is very very slow): link
Obit from the site:
Joseph "Joe" Vincent Rakus joined our Lord on January 12, 2025, in Middletown, Pennsylvania. He was born on August 21, 1954, in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, to Albert V. Rakus and Margaret M. Zsido. His parents and brother, Albert Rakus predeceased him in death.
Joe attended Seven Sorrows of the Blessed Virgin Mary Catholic School in Pennsylvania. He moved on to Bishop Mc Devitt High School for his high school years. He then attended classes at Penn State, Middletown and graduated with a Bachelor's degree.
Joe worked for the State of Pennsylvania as a Programmer. He worked for them for many years and later retired with them.
Joe enjoyed his hobbies. He collected trains and displayed them every Christmas season on the ping pong table in the basement. It would take him a whole month or more to get the display set up. At some time in his life, his brother, Al introduced him to Miniature men/wargaming. Joe took off with that hobby and collected a large number of painted figures, tanks and buildings. He had a large collection and could have provided figures and buildings for many a game. However, he just enjoyed the painted items. It gave him lots of pleasure.
Joe had also taken Ballroom dancing lessons. He enjoyed dancing and had worked his way up to an instructor. He enjoyed going to see other dancers and programs, like Dancing with the Stars with his friends from the dance class.
Joe was a faithful member of Seven Sorrows and ushed at the 10:30 mass.
He enjoyed talking to everyone that he saw on Sunday. He wanted to speak to everyone and find out about the family and what each individual was doing. He prided himself on making sure that he helped everyone that needed assistance on Sundays.
Joe was a kind soul, a people person, and he enjoyed life! He enjoyed conversing with anyone. He was loved deeply and is truly missed
