Joseph Daleo

Joseph Daleo, a beloved figure to his family and friends, was born on December 12, 1937, and departed this life on March 13, 2025, at the age of 87. Throughout his life, Joseph embodied strength, kindness, and an unwavering dedication to those he loved.

He is survived by his two daughters, Joan (Barry) Daleo and Sandra Daleo, who carry forward his legacy of love and unity. Joseph's family extended beyond his immediate relations, as he had a host of other family members and friends who cherished the moments spent in his company.

Joseph experienced profound loss in his lifetime, as he was preceded in death by his beloved wife, Louise Daleo, with whom he shared many precious years. His heart ached with the passing of his daughter, Debra McGee, and he faced the loss of his brother-in-law, Donald Pinky. Joseph was the cherished son of Samuel Daleo and Rose Daleo, both of whom instilled in him values that remained with him throughout his life.

As we lift our thoughts in remembrance of Joseph, we honor a man whose presence made an indelible mark on the hearts of those he knew. His life story is one of love, resilience, and deep-rooted family ties that will resonate in the lives of his daughters and all who had the privilege of knowing him.

Visitation services in honor of Joseph Daleo will take place on March 16, 2025, from 4:00 PM to 8:00 PM at Newcomer Funeral Home located at 837 Mid Rivers Mall Dr, St. Peters, MO, 63376. A funeral service will follow on March 17, 2025, at 10:00 AM, held at St. Paul Catholic Church in Saint Paul, MO, 63366. These gatherings will provide a space for all who loved Joseph to come together to share memories, celebrate his life, and find comfort in each other’s company during this difficult time.

EULOGY OF JOSEPH DALEO

Written by Joan Daleo

On behalf of my family, I want to thank you all for coming to honor the life of my father, Joseph Daleo. He was born in December of 1937, grew up in North St. Louis City in multi-family flats surrounded by his immediate family, his father Sam, his mother Rose & his sister Antoinette, his uncles, aunts and cousins. He remembers them being a big family that was always together. He played at Fairgrounds Park, and was once arrested after shooting out a street light. He worked with his father, Sam, and Uncle Peter, who were both in the produce business. He joined the Marines when he was 18 years old for a two year commitment. He considered the Marines a life changing experience and something every young person should do as much for themselves and their country. He was honorably discharged from the Marines, and at twenty-five married my mother, Louise. Together they raised three children, me and my sisters Debbie and Sandy. They remained married for the rest of their lives. She was the love of his life and in his remaining hours on earth, he declared “God how I loved that woman.”

I have briefly touched upon the chronology of his life. But these highlights only serve as the foundation to speak more about my father—the man and friend he was to many. He was by any measure “old school”. He believed in self-reliance, hard work, discipline, and perseverance. He was out spoken about what he believed was “right”, and rarely considered whether he was wrong. His life was filled with certainty, and his singular vision allowed him to accomplish much. He was not hindered by doubt or in decision. He walked through this life quietly, without the need for fanfare or accolades, but was the most special man most have ever known.

In November of 1973, he made an abrupt career change—forever changing his life and that of many others. He opened Ole Tyme Produce the day after Thanksgiving in a small filling station in St. Louis County. He worked for seven years without a vacation building the small retail operation—often working in excess of 80 hours a week. His reputation in business grew—he was always a man of integrity and quality was his signature. His business grew to include many wholesale accounts and in the fall of 1985, he moved to Produce Row in St. Louis. He became a formidable and important buyer on Produce Row leading to both the success of his own company and the continuation of Produce Row as a viable food hub for the Midwest.

In business as in life, he was a risk taker. He began a small hand cut fruit and vegetable processing plant when customer’s needs began changing in the early 90s and locally processed quality products were not available. He opened a dessert division in 1990 and for 10 years the company offered some of the finest desserts available commercially. He was the first wholesale produce company to exclusively carry premium labels for his primarily white table cloth trade—including Green Giant Potatoes, Twin W Apples, Dole Iceberg, Romaine, and Celery, and Driscoll berries. He had the vision to see the changing marketplace and joined PRO*ACT in 1998, to align the company with other independent distributors throughout the nation that buy and market perishable products together. This alliance allowed Ole Tyme to purchase and market like a national company doing business locally, and arguably is the cornerstone for company’s continued success. It should be said that he was often feared, and he was quoted as saying “I would argue with God about a quarter”, but he was as equally fair, and was quoted as saying “I want all I can get but only what is rightfully mine.”

His business accomplishments are well documented, but as significant are the people whose lives he changed. He loved people and attracted many people. He made lifelong friends. He brought people together, and was a champion of parties, and entertained often. He created “Donut Wednesday” and “Sandwich Thursday”. He had gigantic Company picnics and included everyone—friends, vendors, employees, and customers. He always had an employee Christmas lunch. And his countless parties at my parent’s house are remembered by everyone.

Some examples of his impact on people deserve to be individually highlighted. In his early days on Page Avenue in the two-bay filling station, he made friends with the police chief of Vinita Park, Bob Hartz. He later met Bob and his wife Kay, for dinner with my Mom. They became close friends spending the next 35 years together at Thanksgiving, Christmas, holidays, family events and parties.

His lifelong grade school friend, Fred Knelange, was by his side throughout his life. They continued to fish every year and their fishing stories, along with their treasured friend Russ Christian, our legendary. They lived to fish and went on as many fishing trips as they could. They went less for the fish, and more for the friendship and camaraderie. We should have filmed the trips, as they would have provided all the comedy we would ever need.

His impact on all of us is hard to sum up but its enormity and significance is immeasurable. Many who worked for him respected him above any other man they had ever known. His leadership and work ethic were imprinted on them, and changed them forever. He hired Tim Armstrong, when he was a young guy. After working for my Dad for several years, Tim made the decision to go into his family car business with his own father and sister. Tim told my Dad that he had taught him how to be an adult, the importance of work, and the discipline to carry through. He said he would not be the man he had grown into without the influence of my father. Don Saxburry, who has worked for my Dad since 1996, credits my Dad with being more of a father to him than his own father. The Big Man taught him a lot, giving him a second chance, and he credits all that he has accomplished with that single day. He went from truck driver to operations manager during his tenure at Ole Tyme and has remained loyal to my father and the company.

In 2001, just prior to my father’s open heart surgery, I sent him a letter to describe how I saw him as a father, how I felt about him, and all that he meant to me. I want to read this letter now, as it says everything I felt then and now.

December 27, 2001

Dear Big Man,

I wanted to write a note to you on your birthday, but somehow time escaped me, and I never managed to get the words to paper. Today, after all that I’ve learned, I write this note to you. For should something part us, there are certain truths that I want you to know in your heart. I do not want you to be scared or believe that I think the worst. I simply want you to know what has always been in my heart.

To begin, I’ve never known a greater love than that between us. You were always there beside me—guiding me. We truly are soul mates. I’ve never doubted your love. The only God I’ve ever imagined is a father like you. From you all the good things in my life have come. My love for you has always been never ending.

You are my source of wisdom and strength. I’ve always relied on your judgment. Your grace through life has always been my example. You have always been on the right side of any issue. Your patience, perseverance, discipline and strength have been what have always carried me.

I started calling you the Big Man, because to me, you always were the biggest man I knew. You are everything to me. You’ve touched so many people’s lives, and made this world a better place for all of us. You are the mortar that holds it together. I’ve never been able to properly thank you. Your spirit and generosity have kept me up to all my tasks. Without you, I could never have accomplished what these last years have brought.

The greatest joy I’ve known has been the last 13 years working with you. We built something. I will always remember all the ups, downs, and special times. It would not have been the same without you there—you are Ole Tyme Produce; all that the company has become and all that it will be. My hope is that I will be able to build the company into a monument that represents all your aspirations.

I hope that I have been the daughter that you expected. I hope that I have not disappointed you too often or weighed too heavy on your heart. I’ve always wanted to be there for you and with you. I’ve tried to live my life with you—to share and enjoy our time together. At times, I regret those 8 lost years in Oregon, but it truly has made the last 13 all the more special to me.

It is terribly important to me that you know how special I think you are; the man that you have been to all of us. I’ve never known anyone else like you. You have been with me my whole life. You have been constant. You truly know me. You have never let me down. I always knew that you would know at every one of life’s turns what we should all do, which direction to take. Your singular vision and mission has steered us all.

Sometimes, at times like these, I know how vast my loneliness will be someday. I’ve always felt like God knew that I needed a lifetime with you. Not for you, you are the strongest, but for me. God knew I needed you. You have always been my whole life. Actually, you have been lots of people’s whole lives. We have all shared you and it has been glorious. I have spent my whole life worried about our eventual and inevitable separation and yet thankful and grateful for every single moment and memory. I thank God every day for his gift of you to me. I doubt a father has ever been more loved by me and by many. And when we cannot walk this earth together anymore, I know I will have lost the best half of me.

Do not feel sadness as you read my words for I want you to know the great love that you have brought us all. Should God give us another 30 years, then you will know in your heart and soul how we all felt about you. Those thoughts that often go unspoken. You are the biggest man to us all. You have given everything to me, all that you have. You have taught me everything that is truly important in life. I will always draw from your strength. And somehow I know that we will always be together.

Take care of yourself. I will pray for you and worry about you for the rest of our days. I love you always and forever. Your principles are engraved on my heart. I will wear them for the rest of my life.

I love you,