Joseph Charles Sweet

JOSEPH CHARLES SWEET

     Joseph C. Sweet, 84, was born in Redford County Township on December 21, 1939 to Charles Sweet and Clarabelle Bond (Sweet). In the summers of his youth, he would go to the extended family's farm in the Thumb area and he fondly remembers falling in love with nature and the country as a result of his experiences on the farm as a child. 

      In high school, Joseph was actually a candidate for Major League Baseball (his pitching records at Redford County High School remain unbroken to this day) and it was commented by many of his peers and mentors that he was one of the best left-handed pitchers they had seen. Joseph later married and had his first son, Joseph in 1960. He moved to Florida and worked as a contractor for a time before moving to England where he became a model and small-time actor for 7 years. He fondly remembered living in Europe, traveling around many different parts of the world including Greece, France, Germany, Italy, Portugal, Spain, Jamaica, the Bahamas, and all over the United States. He moved back to the United States in 1977 and lived in New York City before marrying Suzanne Stewart in 1982 and had two children, Jonah and Ben Sweet. The family moved from New York City to Ithaca, NY in 1985 and worked for many years at Cornell University. He later retired from Cornell and returned to Michigan in 2010, living in Cass City, MI before he passed away Oct. 26, 2024. 

      Joseph loved film, books, history, literature, philosophy, politics and economics, and loved to be in nature. He was an avid painter and during the course of his life, had showings of his work in various galleries. He was a very active member in his communities he lived in, serving on the board of the Ithaca Neighborhood Housing Services (INHS) in Ithaca, NY, as well as serving on the Planning Commission and other boards in Cass City, MI. He deeply cared about fairness and equality for all, embracing diversity and difference with great enthusiasm. He was always interested in talking to younger people and hearing their ideas and learning from them. He was thoughtful and ingratiating to others and was very a gentle soul that truly believed in living harmoniously with one another and the planet which he believed parents us all. 

      Graveside service held 2:00 p.m. Friday, November 22, 2024 in Elkland Township Cemetery, Cass City with Sam Leppert, Funeral Celebrant officiating.