Joe Earl Lewark, age 85, peacefully passed away at home on December 16, 2025. He was born on October 29, 1940.
Joe was preceded in death by his parents, Fred and Frederika Waterfield Lewark; his son, Joe Lewark Jr., affectionately known as “Peanuts”; his brother, Ralph Lewark, and Ralph’s wife, Della; and an infant brother.
A devoted husband, father, grandfather, and great-grandfather, Joe lived his entire life on the South End of Knotts Island, North Carolina. He was born and raised in the same home where he later raised his own family—a house filled with generations of memories, love, and tradition.
Joe was a waterman, a way of life that reflected his deep connection to the water and to the Knotts Island community he dearly loved. His life and work were rooted in the land and waters that shaped him and that he cherished throughout his years.
He is survived by his beloved wife, Carol Freeman Lewark; his daughter, Jodi Lewark; his grandchildren, Olivia Lee and her husband, Sean, and Caroline Mayle and her husband, Evan; his great-grandson, Brooks; and his sisters, Alice Church and her husband, Jimmy, and Ellen Vaughn and her longtime companion, Ronnie.
The family would like to offer a special and heartfelt thank you to their nephew, Tommy, and granddaughter, Olivia, for their exceptional care, love, and steadfast support throughout this journey.
