Joseph Ray Karlovic, 76, of Mount Olive, died on Saturday, Feb. 21, 2026.
A celebration of life, “One More for the Road,” will be held on Saturday, March 14, from 1 to 6 p.m. at the VFW Hall in Mount Olive. In tribute to Mr. Karlovic’s enduring loyalties, guests are encouraged to wear casual attire sporting Dodger blue or Notre Dame blue, gold or green. All are welcome to come enjoy some food and drink, share a story and a laugh and if it feels right, raise a glass for one more for the road.
Born on Dec. 29, 1949, to Henry and Velma (Boston) Karlovic, Mr. Karlovic proudly served in the United States Army, worked for many years at the Shell Refinery and remained a proud and dedicated union member. He served his community first as a school board member and later as its president, then went on to contribute his steady Democratic judgment to the county property tax board. In retirement, he dealt blackjack, where he found good company, better stories and a cast of characters that provided plenty of both.
Mr. Karlovic married Martha (Albers) Karlovic on Nov. 10, 1973 and together they spent more than five decades building a family, collecting stories and enjoying plenty of porch conversations. He was a proud father to Eric (Stacey) Karlovic and Joyce Braasch and an even prouder grandfather to Nicholas Braasch, Lily Braasch, Charlie Karlovic, Darby Braasch, Brooke Braasch and Henry Karlovic.
His grandchildren knew him best for “the handshake,” a ritual equal parts generosity and initiation. Mount Olive, meanwhile, knew him as the unofficial and entirely self-appointed trash can monitor. If something was out of place, Mr. Karlovic noticed. And if he noticed, one was going to hear about it.
Mr. Karlovic possessed a well-documented devotion to Notre Dame football, the Los Angeles Dodgers and the perennial sport of criticizing the St. Louis Cardinals. For Mr. Karlovic, the greatest day in sports history was Oct. 15, 1988. Seated with his father and his son in the south end zone at Notre Dame Stadium, he watched ‘the Catholics overtake the Convicts.’ On the drive home, he listened as Kirk Gibson delivered his improbable home run to win Game 1 for the Dodgers. It was, in his view, a day arranged by Providence.
Providence would make a more personal appearance on Aug. 28, 2018, at Oak Brook Golf Course. Playing alongside Dave Michalik, Ron Mueller and Bob Sanvi, Mr. Karlovic recorded a hole-in-one. By all available accounts and unlike his accomplishments on the gridiron and the diamond, it remained an achievement that required no embellishment.
Beyond stadiums and scoreboards, Mr. Karlovic preferred the open road. He and Martha logged miles across the United States. He was particularly drawn to the Grand Canyon, whose scale, beauty and permanence seemed to continually amaze him. Before he retired from air travel, however, he also made regular trips to Cancun. Between sun and cocktails, he quietly refined what can only be described as impeccable Macarena form. It was a skill few knew about but was deployed with enthusiasm and precision.
Mr. Karlovic loved dogs, especially Tramp, Bernie, Dolly and Hoss; Willie Nelson; bourbon on the porch; and harassing his friend Steve Augustine on Facebook with the persistence of a man who understood both sport and timing. To his favorite bourbon group, he was simply “Uncle Joe,” and he rarely allowed a gathering to end without his signature line: “Let’s have one more for the road.”
Mr. Karlovic was preceded in death by his parents, Henry and Velma Karlovic; his sister, Mary Ann “Toots” Scheller and her husband, Bud Scheller; and his niece, Jolene Scheller.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Kids Café children’s program at the Mount Olive Care Center or the Mount Olive Academic Foundation, causes Mr. Karlovic would quietly and approvingly endorse. Becker and Son Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements. Anyone wishing to leave an online condolence may do so at beckerandson.com.
