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Loading...Joseph Arthur Urbanik was born on Nov. 7, 1947 in Dragerton (East Carbon City) to Albert George and Lillian Grames Urbanik. He passed away in the home he loved and shared with his devoted wife Vickie in Stansbury Park on Jan. 8. Joe was known for his athleticism and sardonic wit. As a boy he played baseball and football, but his love was basketball. With his lean 6’6” frame he was the center on the East Carbon High School basketball team that went to the state championship his senior year. It was in high school that he honed his speaking and debating skills, and he attended Boys’ State and was senior class president. Joe loved the winter sports of Utah, skiing downhill and cross-country. He attended College of Eastern Utah and University of Utah earning a degree in civil engineering specializing in environmental concerns. Joe married Karen Jensen in 1968 in the fall of the same year his son David was born. Joe and Karen later divorced but remained friends. In 1977, Joe met and married Victoria Dufendach. Together they enjoyed boating on Lake Powell and one of Joe’s recent favorites a cross country train trip. For 40 years, Joe was actively involved with Tooele County serving on numerous advisory boards as well Tooele County surveyor and administrator. He was very proud of his contribution in the development of the Stansbury Park community. Joe was the CEO of Stansbury Design Associates. Joe is survived by his wife Victoria Dufendach Urbanik, his son David Urbanik of Salt Lake City, former wife Karen Urbanik of Salt Lake City, mother Lillian Urbanik of East Carbon, brother-in-law Bill Potter of Price, brother George (Mary) Urbanik of Florida, sister Teresa (Charles) Hayman of California, brother John (Barbara) Urbanik of Colorado, sister-in-law LaVerna Urbanik, sister Christina (Howard) Webb of Georgia and brother Andy (Tina) Urbanik of East Carbon, along with numerous nieces and nephews. Joe was preceded in death and undoubtedly greeted by his biggest fan and father Albert George Urbanik, good friend and father-in-law Paul Dufendach, “gal pal” and sister Frances Urbanik Potter and brother Albert George Urbanik III. Joe will be greatly missed by all who knew and loved him, but we are happy that he has been released from his failing body that had imprisoned him. He had many good friends and neighbors who helped him greatly these last difficult years as he struggled with MS. We see him now walking onto a heavenly court with his easy stride, with just that little bounce in his step. He turns to the basket, jumps, long arms extended, a flick of the wrist, the ball arches and swoosh — all net and two points. A viewing for Joe will be held Jan. 14 at 1 p.m. at Tate Mortuary in Tooele.
