Joseph G. Tranchida

Joseph G. Tranchida was born in Detroit on November 13, 1957, to Joseph and Rita Tranchida. He passed away on February 21, 2026, at DMC Harper University Hospital in Detroit, at the age of 68. Following a quadruple bypass surgery, Joe seemed to be recovering well for a few days but then struggled with breathing complications which led to him requiring life supporting therapies. Joe’s body fought to recover for 33 days before he went home to be with our Lord Jesus and his father, also named Joe, who passed before him in 2011. Joe was a gifted mechanical engineer who dedicated his career to designing and manufacturing lift-assist devices that supported automobile production facilities across the country. He took immense pride in designing devices that assisted the labor worker. For the past three years, Joe worked at HTI Cybernetics, where his coworkers came to know and love his sparkling personality and his legendary dad jokes. His humor was part of who he was, and he had a way of making the workday lighter for those who knew him. Car racing was one of Joe’s greatest passions and a huge part of life with Cindy and their boys. You could find him at Waterford Hills Road Racing at least one weekend a month, helmet on and ready to compete. He also competed for a few years driving circle track in Owosso, Michigan. He loved “the smell of racing fuel”, the track, the camaraderie in the paddock, and the thrill of the sport—and of course, the hot dogs! He didn’t care if he finished first or last, he was always there just to have fun…winning was the not as important. Joe’s love of engines didn’t stop at the track. Often, Cindy could find him at JB’s house piecing back together a crashed race car, building a new engine, or simply chatting it up with the guys. Joe and Cindy shared a special history from the very beginning. When they were first dating, Joe worked as a Radio Personality overnights at Tower 98 radio station in Monroe Michigan from midnight to 6:00 a.m. Cindy would spend the night there with him while he worked—one of many early memories that reflected the closeness and fun they shared throughout their life together. Joe loved his family very much. Joe was dedicated to his sons and their upbringing. Joe was always encouraging his boys and involved in all aspects of their lives. He supported and cheered them on in many ways. He helped Dominick get involved in go-cart racing where he won a championship in his first year. He traveled in support of Jonathon and his therapies and more recently, helped him to get living on his own. He loved to teach Daniel the mechanical makings of a vehicle and be his biggest fan during his years of travel baseball. Before their boys came along, Joe and Cindy, also enjoyed boating, and those years added to many good memories. But above all, Joe will be remembered for his humor, his warmth, and standing in the background observing and appreciating – never wanting to be the center of attention (he left that to Cindy). His “dad jokes” were infamous—so bad they were good, and so frequent they were unavoidable. He delivered every punchline with perfect timing and a grin that dared you not to laugh. Groans were the highest compliment. Joe loved to “give a little Jesus” to others and share his Christian faith. For many years he served in his Catholic Church as a Eucharistic Minister. His faith touched many lives, even at work. Rumor has it that some of his coworkers received more than a handful of “little Jesus’s” in Joe’s pursuit to share the love of Christ with others in his special way. He is survived by his beloved wife of almost 37 years Cindy, their three sons Jonathon, Daniel, and Dominick; his mother Rita Tranchida; his sisters and his brother-in-law’s, Kathleen O’Donnell, Mary (Andy) Loria, and Christine (Gary) Buschmohle. Joe was “the baby of the family” as his sisters fondly remember him raised with a lot of loving attention. Joe will be dearly missed and forever remembered by his numerous nieces and nephews, along with countless friends, coworkers, and fellow race car drivers. Visitation will be Thursday March 5, 2026, from 2:00–8:00 PM, with a 7:00 PM Rosary, at Wasik Funeral Home, Inc., 49150 Schoenherr Rd. (north of 22 Mile Rd.), Shelby Township. Instate Friday, March 6, at 10:30 AM until an 11:00 AM Funeral Mass at St. Irenaeus Catholic Church, 771 Old Perch Rd. (north of Avon Rd.), Rochester Hills. A luncheon will follow. In lieu of flowers, a GoFundMe campaign has been established to assist Cindy and the boys with medical costs and ongoing needs in his absence. Details can be found at: https://www.gofundme.com/activity/a328964b-9d46-4b05-a44f-bdfd96d10050

Joseph G. Tranchida

November 13, 1957 - February 21, 2026