Obituary of Joseph Taphorn

Joseph "Joe" B Taphorn passed away on September 21st, 2016 at Vassar Brothers Medical Center. He was 93. Joe was born on October 9, 1921 and grew up in Beckemeyer, IL. He attended The University of Illinois on an ROTC scholarship and earned a BS degree in Agriculture. Upon graduation in 1943, he entered Officer Training Candidate School with the Army and subsequently joined the European Theatre of WWII, where he earned the rank of Captain. Following the war, Joe worked as a Patent Examiner in the US Patent Office while attending George Washington University, where he earned his BS in Engineering in 1949 and his Law Degree in 1950. His law career as a patent attorney started with Pollard and Johnston in NYC. In 1952, he joined IBM as a patent lawyer and rose to guide the rule of law governing protection of copyright and trademark protection of computer hardware and software developers around the world. With regard to his business career, he was most proud of his contributions in this arena. After retiring from IBM in 1989, Joe managed a private patent law practice to help aspiring entrepreneurs protect their inventions and intellectual property. He served as Committee Chairman for the American Bar Association starting in 1983. Joe believed individual accomplishment was limitless and inspired greater achievement from those he loved and met. He moved throughout the country for IBM, working in Eastchester, Endicott, San Jose, CA, Poughkeepsie, White Plains and Armonk. He moved to Poughkeepsie in 1961, where he raised his family. Joe's primary leisure passion was golf and he was a member of the Dutchess Golf and Country Club. He also enjoyed snow skiing, hunting and fishing, tennis and gardening. Joe was born to the late Herman and Marie (Gasser) Taphorn. He married Anna Marie Klinge in Washington DC on June 25th, 1944. Together they had three children, who have survived them. Robert and his wife, Judith Taphorn, of Estes Park, CO, Joanne and her husband, Ted Petersen, of Poughkeepsie, NY, John and his wife, Mary Taphorn of Kingwood, TX. His grandchildren are Jessica, married to Chris Thoma, Christopher, Cameron, Jennifer and Robert. He has two great grandchildren, Avery and Griffin Thoma. Joe was predeceased by Anne in 1991 and married Joan Klemmer on July 13, 1996. Joan passed away on January 20, 2014. Joe is also survived by his step children: Sandra and her husband, William Frey, Scott and his wife, Helen Lafferty. Step grandchildren: Sarah and her husband, Michael Kriner, Christine and Scott and great grandchild: Bryden Kriner. He is also survived by a sister, Genevieve Albers and many nieces and nephews and grand nieces and nephews. In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation to the Semper Fi Parents of Hudson Valley, the American Heart Association or the American Lung Association. Calling hours will be held from 4-8pm on Friday, September25, 2015 at the Timothy P. Doyle Funeral Home 371 Hooker Ave. Poughkeepsie, NY. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held 9:30 am, Saturday morning, the 26th at St Martin de Porres Church Cedar Valley Road Poughkeepsie. Burial will follow at Calvary Cemetery Poughkeepsie, NY. If you would like to leave an On Line Condolence please visit www.doylefuneralhome.com