Herman J. "Joe" Lease

Herman J. (Joe) Lease, 83, of Jacksonville Beach, Florida, passed peacefully to the Lord on May 25, 2022 at the Earl B. Hadlow Center for Caring in Jacksonville, FL.

Joe was born on November 12, 1938 in Midland, Allegany County, Maryland to Alfred Harold Lease, Sr and Gladys Rosalie (Duckworth) Lease. After graduating from Forest Park High School in Baltimore, he served in the Air Force, then worked at Bendix briefly. He lived in Baltimore Md from 1957 to 1992. He began work with CSX Transportation in the Tariff Bureau in 1960. In the early years with CSX Joe was a Tariff Compiler, and later was promoted to Chief Pricing Analyst. In 1992 he transferred with CSX to Jacksonville, FL. He retired in 1998 after 36 years of employment with CSX.

In high school, Joe had a flair for art, and played the clarinet in the school band while working part-time. He also sang in the church choir. During his early years with CSX, Joe enjoyed playing men’s softball and he managed the CSX Tariff Bureau softball team for a number of years. He enjoyed fishing, hunting, and camping, and watching all kinds of sports. He loved to grocery-shop – what a blessing to his wife!

Joe was predeceased by his parents, Alfred and Gladys Lease, and an older sister, Gladys Jean White (Bob). Joe is survived by his wife of 53 years, Kathleen B. (Coski) Lease, sons Joseph H. Lease (Brandy) and Robert A. Lease; grandchildren David L. Lease, Jodi Fruen, and Andrew Fruen, all of Jacksonville, FL; and two brothers, Alfred H. Lease, Jr (Joan) of Lavale, MD, and Frederick D. Lease (Bonnie) of Baltimore, MD.

Everyone who knew Joe enjoyed his quiet but surprising sense of humor which brought many a person to hilarious tears. He also had a quiet generosity to friends in their time of need. His parents and siblings were very involved in the Methodist Church in Allegany County, and Joe often reflected how blessed he and his family were through many hardships in the early years.