Joe was extremely musically gifted. The background music for this page is an original piece that Joe wrote, composed, sung and played. He had played in a local rock band, Round Two, with his brother, Steve, also a gifted and talented musician, singer and composer.

In addition to being musically gifted, Joe had played club soccer for ten years - half his lifetime. He was easy going and very sensitive - truly a nice person. He tended to be a home body, and LOVED animals. He was considering becoming a veterinarian.

Joe's mom is so devastated by his passing that she cannot even begin to put her feelings into words, but his oldest brother, Michael, wrote a poem expressing his feelings about losing his little brother. It follows.

Joe
What's wrong with these kids today,
They're all hooked on drugs, but, anyway
They don't realize what they're doing,
They just do it for the feeling
Not realizing they're a different person
When they're on drugs they're screaming and cursing
Never knowing it's killing them slowly,
And one day they are going to go
They'll never know the pain that's inside
The loved ones they left behind
Pain that's so deep it cuts like a knife
Knowing that they'll never be a part of your life
If we could go back and stop them from using
We would all have a lot less pain and bruising
I would give anything including my life
Just tell him I love him and I will all my life
I miss him so much I can't wait to be by his side
I miss him so much I wish I could die
I miss him so much I can't help but to cry
I miss him so much why did he have to die
There is no other, like my brother...Joe who I will always love.

Dedicated to Joe Smerker, by his brother, Mike.