Obituary of Joseph "Smokey Joe" Lampert

Joseph (Smokey Joe) Lampert, 96, of Indianapolis, Indiana, passed away on May 6, 2024. Funeral services will be held at St. Christopher Catholic Church in Speedway on Thursday, May 9. Family visitation will be at 10:00am; public visitation will be at 11:00am.  Fr. Vince Lampert will conduct the funeral mass at noon. Burial will follow at Calvary Catholic Cemetery, Indianapolis. Stevens Mortuary is handling the funeral arrangements.

Joseph was born in Indianapolis, Indiana to Joseph and Mary Lampert on December 2, 1927. He grew up in the 700 block of Haugh Street, attended Holy Trinity Slovenian Catholic Church and School, and graduated from George Washington High School. He served his country in the 1^st Cavalry Division of the U.S. Army in occupied Japan during WWII.  On April 25, 1953, he married Sharol Lee Goddard, whom he had first met at the old Pixie movie theater on the corner of 10^th and Holmes Streets, where she worked. Joseph’s trade was carpentry, and he worked first in construction and then for the Indianapolis Public School building and grounds department.

Joseph enjoyed reading the daily newspaper; listening to classical or polka music; fishing in Indiana and Minnesota lakes; and watching sports, especially Cubs baseball, IU basketball, and his children’s and grandchildren’s events. In retirement, he pedaled his bicycle all around Haughville, completed travel to many national parks and every state except Hawaii, and, sometimes successfully, played the slots at his favorite casinos. Joseph was fiercely, and vocally, proud of his Haughville roots and home, his Slovenian heritage, and, most of all, his family.

Joseph is survived by his children Joseph (Jaye), Mark (Cathie), Steve (Deanne, deceased), Jean, Bob (Sharon), Caroline, Fr. Vince, Mike, and Jeff (Susan) and by his sister, Frances. He has 15 grandchildren, 19 great-grandchildren with 2 more on the way, and beloved nieces and nephews and their families. He is preceded in death by his wife, Sharol; his parents Joseph and Mary; and siblings Mary, Josephine, Rose, Caroline, Ernestine, Martin, John, and Robert.

Memorial donations may be made to the Slovenian National Home, 2717 W. 10th St., Indianapolis, IN 46222, of which Joseph was a member. The family wishes to extend their gratitude to the nurses and all of the staff at Wellbrooke of Avon for their care and kindness these past months.