College Says Goodbye to Joe Weinkopf (’28)

Family, friends, and countless members of the Thomas Aquinas College and Santa Paula communities poured into Our Lady of the Most Holy Trinity chapel on Friday morning to celebrate the funeral Mass of Joe Weinkopf (’28), who passed away in his sleep early in the morning on Friday, January 16.

The Mass, celebrated primarily by campus chaplain Rev. Brendan Kelly, was a solemn, serene, and hope-filled celebration of Joseph’s short — yet impactful — life on earth. Many of Joe’s six siblings honored their brother through various roles in the Mass, whether by reading the Scriptures, singing a psalm, or presenting the gifts at the Offertory. A throng of young altar-boys, many of whom Joe himself had trained throughout the years, accompanied the procession as a testament to Joe’s selfless and faith-filled life.

Joe, son of Mary Kate and Chris Weinkopf, was a sophomore at the college; an athlete; a lover of games; a musician; and a friend to so many. “But what I loved most about him was his quiet, simple humility, which made each and every person he met fall in love with him,” shared Joe’s older brother, Kolbe, in his eulogy at the end of the Mass. Indeed, Joe lived out his faith devoutly, inflamed by a love for the Lord. This love, according to his family, only continued to grow and deepen throughout the year-and-a-half he spent at Thomas Aquinas College.

Additionally, Kolbe reflected how, despite Joe’s knowledge of the risks his condition imposed, “he was not afraid to die. Instead, he chose to live abundantly.” He recalled, with a smile, that Joe had carved the word “LIVE” into the bunk-bed slats in his room at home, “where he would see it every night and every morning. Now, I pray, and I hope, that he is living more fully than he ever has before.”

Please continue to pray for the repose of Joe’s soul, and for the consolation of his family, friends, and the community so deeply touched by his life.

Eternal rest grant unto him, O Lord, and may perpetual life shine upon him. May Joe’s soul, and the souls of all the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace.

More photos from Joe Weinkopf’s funeral ...

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