Joseph August Van Kerkhove, son of Joseph B. and Mildred L. (nee Meier) Van Kerkhove , born on October 11, 1942 in Peoria, Illinois.Went home to heaven surrounded by his wife and daughters on Tuesday, October 4, 2022. Joseph graduated from Chillicothe Township High School, and proudly served his Country in the United States Navy as a hospital corpsman, attached to the Marines at Camp Lejeune from 1964 to 1968. A blind date ended in 54 years of marriage to Phyllis (nee Tran). They spent many happy years raising their children and traveling together. Joe was a respected Elyria Police Officer for 31 years. Besides being a patrolman, he was a detective and a K-9 officer with partners Ruff and Magnum. He was a member of the Grafton United Methodist Church. He was a life time member of Grafton VFW post # 3341, Amvets post # 32 in Elyria and Oberlin Masonic Lodege #380 F&AM. Joe enjoyed hunting, traveling, and watching old TV (Westerns) and Ohio sports. He was most happy when surrounded by the grandchildren. Survivors include his wife, Phyllis; daughters, Joric (Bobby) Butler and Jonelle (Andrew) Hylbert; grandchildren, Jared Meredith, Samuel (Kelsey) Butler, Elizabeth Butler and Ella Butler, Luke and Emme Hylbert; brothers, James Van Kerkhove and Rick (Sue) Van Kerkhove; nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death  by his parents, grandson Brody Hylbert, in-laws Mark and LaRene Tran, Ruth Tran, James Tran, Alan and Ginny Tran and Ted Sayers. Family will receive friends 4-7 PM Friday, October 7, 2022 at the Laubenthal-Mercado Funeral Home and Cremation Service 38475 Chestnut Ridge Rd. (at St. Rt 57), Elyria 440-322-4626 and 12 PM until time of service at 1PM Saturday, October 8, 2022 at the Grafton UMC 973 Mechanic St. Grafton, OH 44044. Pastor Robert Spaulding will officiate. Graveside services will be held 10:30 AM Tuesday, October 11, 2022 at Ohio Western Reserve Cemetery 10175 Rawiga Rd. Seville, OH 44273. Family suggests those who wish may make donations to Grafton UMC. Online condolences may be expressed to the family at www.laubenthalmercado.com