Joseph "Joe" Agresta

Joseph (Joe) Agresta died peacefully in his home in South Carolina on February 9th, 2021. He was 94 years old. Born in Myerstown, PA in on May 11, 1926. Joe grew up in Lebanon, PA during the Great Depression.

As a teenager, he began working as an ice-man delivering blocks of ice and at 17 he joined the Navy Air Corp during WWII. Following the war, Joe chauffeured for the Guerrisi family (original manufacturer of San Georgio Macaroni) and Wilder Family (owners of Lebanon Daily News). Joe apprenticed and became a Pressman at the Lebanon Daily News where he had a 37+ year career. He loved his job working with the presses and all machinery which extended to an at-home shop full of equipment used regularly in his hobbies.

Another life-long love was horses and he developed an expertise working with them over the years. Following retirement to South Carolina, Joe volunteered with Heroes on Horseback, an organization using equine therapy with exceptional children. Joe was best known as a story-teller, a man with a huge accepting heart who was loved by his family and friends.

He is survived by his life-partner for 40+ years, Gwen Thelen; his daughter Sharon Agresta-Siekerman; sisters Mary Harter and Josie Waltermyer (Clarence) and numerous nieces and nephews. He will be missed by the many people who knew and loved him, but that quiet smile and loving heart lives on. Internment will be held in Indiantown Gap National Cemetery, PA at a later date. In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made to Hospice Care of the Low Country (hospicecarelc.org) or Heroes on Horseback (heroesonhorseback.org).
Arrangements entrusted to Porterfield-Scheid Funeral Directors & Cremation Services, Ltd., Lebanon.