05/29/2022
There really are no words. To try and come up with the words makes it feel too real that he's gone. It's been a long week to find my voice in this so, here goes.
On the morning of Saturday, May 21st 2022, my Dad, Joseph Carl Piorkowski passed away after his sudden 4 month battle with brain cancer. It's true what people say, that no one understands what it really feels like until it happens. Losing a parent is incredibly heavy but this feels like so much more. It's impossible to fully describe the sheer magnitude of the loss of his presence, or the utter frustration of what was robbed from my Dad. Cancer causes everyone to lose something, but this felt extreme for my Dad because it was the very thing that made him who he was and what made him happy. A terrible twist of fate.
Growing up with Joe as my Dad wasn't always easy. Not for my mom or my brother either. More than half of his life he just kept his head down, avoided people and worked his knuckles to the bone. However, a man of many talents, he made great efforts to do creative things with my brother Ray and I. From drawing, painting, building model cars, HO trains, building guitars, home made go-karts and minibikes, the list goes on. He always found the time to do something or build something with us.
It wasn't until later in his life he really came into his own and found happiness through his art, metal sculptures, building motorcycles again and making friends in the resurgence of the vintage motorcycle community. I'm sure it felt odd at times for him partying at campouts and riding with people less than half his age. But he did it! He enjoyed it. It likely made him feel less of a screw up half his life to see so many people look up to him, listen to his stories, and build bikes similar to those he rode so many miles on. To call my own Dad a legend feels funny to me, but it's the single word that keeps recurring from others. To see so many people inspired by him makes me proud to call him my Dad. I am forever grateful for what he has taught me and I will do everything I can to keep his legacy alive. I want to thank everyone for their support over the past few months.
I want to say rest in peace Dad but, instead I hope you're riding in peace, along with Uncle Neil, Dave and Casey and continuing your adventures across the cosmos.
JCP
7-9-49
5-21-22
A Celebration of Life will be announced at a later date.
