Josh Alan Koons, 64, passed away Wednesday, September 4, 2024, with family by his side at Genesis Gettysburg Center after battling a brief serious illness.
Born December 19, 1959, in Waynesboro, PA, he was the son of the late Frank T. and Ellen L. (Yeakle) Koons also of Waynesboro. He was a life-long resident of the Waynesboro area.
Josh graduated from Waynesboro Area Senior High School with the Class of 1978. Many of his classmates and other friends have reached out to family, describing him as, “a gentle, artistic soul; a laid-back guy who never wanted to inconvenience anyone; fun to be around and always willing to help; one of the good ones.”
He had a long career as a machinist, beginning at Landis Tool Company in Waynesboro immediately after high school before moving on to DL Martin in Mercersburg where he worked for nearly 30 years. Most recently he was employed at Manitowoc in Shady Grove. He took great pride in his work and was a mentor to younger coworkers new to the trade.
Josh was an avid hunter and angler, with some of his most memorable experiences being hunting adventures in Maine and fishing excursions on the Chesapeake Bay. He also enjoyed raising tropical fish, collecting coins and arrow heads, and going to sprint car and dirt track races.
He was a member of various Waynesboro social clubs, including the Eagles Club, Owls Club, Loyal Order of Moose and the Waynesboro Fish and Game Protective Association. He frequented club events and rarely missed an oyster, shrimp or crab feed. He especially enjoyed taking his beloved grandchildren to the Owls Club Annual Youth Fish Rodeo.
He is survived by the pride and joy of his life, his daughter Meagan (Koons) Hynes and husband Chris of Westminster, MD, along with his two cherished grandchildren Hudson Hynes and Mila Hynes; two sisters, Wendy Koons of Millersburg, PA, and Holly (Koons) O’Leary and husband Ed of Portland, OR; brother-in-law Raymond Harbaugh of Orrtanna, PA; many cousins and countless friends, several of which he thought of as brothers.
Josh was preceded in death by his parents Frank and Ellen Koons, and his older sister Carla (Koons) Harbaugh.
There will be no funeral service. A Celebration of Life is being planned for a later date. Details are pending and will be posted when available.
In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations to the Antietam Humane Society, 8513 Lyons Road, Waynesboro, PA 17268.
Grove-Bowersox Funeral Home, Waynesboro is assisting with the arrangements.
