“Joe” Joseph Baldassano Jr.
Joseph Baldassano, Jr. was born in Bethesda, MD on May 30, 1954. He was the 4th of 6 children born to Joseph, Sr and Marie. His early childhood and teen years were spent in Rockville, MD. He enlisted in the US Army in 1976 and served with the 561st Military Police Company at Ft Myer, VA. He proudly served in the Honor Platoon, which is responsible for security at high profile and dignitary events, such as the Inaugural Parade for President Jimmy Carter.
Joe met his wife, Jane Steinkamp, while both were serving in the US Army. They married in 1978, and were parents of a daughter, Brandi, and a son, Justin. After their discharge from the military, they relocated to Nebraska, where Joe continued his career and education in law enforcement. He served as a police officer in Aurora and a Cass County deputy sheriff before utilizing the GI Bill to obtain a degree in Criminal Justice from the University of Nebraska at Omaha in 1990. He worked in the Nebraska Department of Corrections as a Caseworker, Parole Officer, Parole Hearing officer, Administration Assistant, Assistant Warden, and Acting Warden of Community Corrections before retiring in 2016. He then worked as a Deputy for Gage County Sheriff’s office until 2017 when he finally permanently retired.
Joe enjoyed traveling, and he and Jane rode their Harley Davidson motorcycles all over the United States, visiting many National Parks. After retiring from the biker years, he still pursued traveling wherever and whenever he could. The trip of a lifetime was to the Galapagos Islands, where he swam with sea lions, trekked among giant tortoises, and walked the exact ground as his hero, Charles Darwin. This trip lasted only a week, but resulted in lifelong friendships with fellow travelers.
Joe passed away on March 25, 2024 after a brief, but valiant fight with cancer. He is survived by wife of 45 years, Jane, and children, Joseph and Michael of Maryland, Brandi of Seward, and Justin of Lincoln. The apples of his eyes are his grandchildren, Savannah, Camden, and Emma. He is also survived by two sisters, Carol and Vicki, and two brothers, Michael and Stephen. He was preceded in death by his parents, and brother, Philip.
Private family services will be held at a later date. Interment will be at the Omaha National Cemetery.
To leave a condolence please use the form below.
Funeral Home assisting is Aspen Mortuary, 4822 Cleveland Avenue, Lincoln, NE 68504. To view an on-line obituary or email condolences please visit Aspen Mortuary’s website at www.aspenaftercare.com.
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Condolences for “Joe” Joseph Baldassano Jr.
my grandpa, my best friend. I don’t know what to do without you. I will simply miss you forever. Thank you for everything, every memory, every hug, every laugh. I love you more.
Our thoughts are with Jane and her family. Always enjoyed working with Joe when we were at Ft Myer. He will be missed by many.
To Jane and her family my condolences
I will always remember my times working with Joe at Ft. Meyer especially is great laugh and just bring an all around great guy . Rest in peace my friend.
Baldy
You were my paisan. I remember all the fun times we had at Hatfield Gate. Jane, you have deepest condolences to you and your family.
He will be greatly missed..
Joe you will be sorely missed. You and Jane were the backbone of our recent reunions of the 561st MP company. I am glad that we were able to get together the past few years at our reunions. Have safe travels in Heaven and explore the things up there. Prayers for you and your family
My condolences to Jane and family. It is hard to say goodbye to Joe — a great friend and co-worker. I had the honor of working with Joe at central office and at the community center. He was always up for a good laugh and at the same time, doing the hard work we both dearly loved. I am proud to have had the opportunity to work with Joe at the community center as warden and assistant warden together. I will forever miss Joe. Thank you to Jane and family for allowing me to come over and visit with him in the past several weeks. Such wonderful memories I will cherish. Joes will always be one of the best <3. Joe, I miss you LB!
Dad, I miss you so much. 💔
Brother Joey, I’m so glad that we had a chance to reconnect this Fall. I’m really grateful we had the opportunity . I’m really going to miss you, With All My Love, your sister, Carol
Hi everyone I’m Joe’s younger brother by two years. When Joe was about 12 or so I
Was watching him kill hornets with his bare hands on the back porch. I was amazed I stood back and thought is he stupid or crazy. Then I came to realize later that he was definitely not stupid or crazy he was just a flat out bad ass. He taught me me
To ride a bike and also convinced me that Santa was real one Xmas eve saying can’t you here the sleigh bells and I really heard them may they ring forever brother.
To Jane I can’t imagine the sorrow you must be enduring.45 years is long time to share your life together. Joe is with his mom, dad, Philip. Prayers to his lovely family whom I was lucky enough to marry into. Peace and love to all
.Dianne, sister In la
I am in shock or the passing of Joe. I will always remember fondly of the time of you, Jane, and him came to visit me. I will have you Jane in my thoughts and prayers as well as your whole family
I am so sorry for your loss. I had the honor of working with him in Cass County. He was a mentor and more than that, a true friend. I am so thankful that we reconnected in recent years. My prayers are with you and your family.
Rest in Peace Joe. My condolences to Joe’s family.
Sorry to hear about Joe’s passing. May Jesus make His Face shine on you and give you peace
So sorry for the loss of my big bother Joe. May he rest in peace and may his wife Jane, his family, and his friends find the grace and comfort at his time. Life can be so short and we are never promised tomorrow, so live each day to the fullest as I know my older brother did. Our childhood may have been difficult but like Joe, and his siblings, he over came those difficulties and finish this soul journey on earth with honor, glory and strong! Until we meet again where time has no meaning — peace to my big brother Joe!
To the family and friends of “Joe” Joseph Baldassano Jr.
The world lost a true comrade who selflessly, and honorably served his country and community! Let Joe’s memories always be remembered for the good! His energy will continue to live through ” the apple of his eyes ” and among the lives he touched along the way… #CombatVeteran
To my Dear Cousin Joe,
You were always such a delight to speak too, full of knowledge and charm.
Certainly a trait from your dad. I only wish we had more time to enjoy, however God has brought you home.
My sincere condolences to Jane, children and your grandchildren. You will be missed
dearly. Love your cousin, MaryAnn
Dad,
You taught me a lot over the years often in the form of quotes or short stories and one of your favorites was “When I was a boy of 14, my father was so ignorant I could hardly stand to have the old man around. But when I got to be 21, I was astonished at how much the old man had learned in seven years”. Which was a quote from Mark Twain. The lesson of course being that the father had not learned anything during that time but the son had.
However, that was never the case with you, you never stopped learning, I was never going to catch up. Perhaps looking back, that was the single most important lesson you taught me was to keep learning. That there was always more to know, more to research, and this was really the only way to bridge that gap of understanding others. That has been more valuable to me than you ever got a chance to know.
There never seems to be enough time to say the things we want to, to pass on the things we should, to say thank you. I’m glad that near the end we had a moment to say some of those things.
We miss you and we love you.
I knew Joe when he was studying at UNO around 1990. His name popped into my head today, and I searched and found his recent obituary. I enjoyed his friendship all those years ago. Condolences to the family.