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UWM honors and remembers slain student
By Filiberto Ortega
“The thing I’m gonna miss most about Joe is his cute little smile. He had that way of just looking at you like he’d melt your heart and soul.” – Patty Farrell, Joe Munz' aunt
About 100 people gathered in Spaights Plaza, Monday, Oct. 16, for a candlelight vigil to honor the life of Joseph Munz, a 21-year-old University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee student.
On Tuesday, Oct. 10, Munz was shot and killed while making deliveries for Jimmy John’s. News spread fast and shook the UWM community.
Solemn music played as family, friends and members of the community gathered in the rain for what would be a night of shared memories.
Student Association President Samantha Prahl commenced the ceremonies and left the podium saying, “The only way for us to make it through this tragic loss is for us to be here for each other, because only together can we begin to heal.”
Chancellor Carlos Santiago then spoke to the crowd and said Munz epitomized the traditional UWM student in that he was a good student, a hard worker and that he had a bright future ahead of him. He then called for a moment of silence and candles were lit in memory of Munz. Santiago moved from the podium, encouraging friends and family to come up and give testimonials of Joseph’s life.
Munz’ uncle, Mike Farrell, was the first to step up to the podium. Munz “loved being here at UWM. It was a welcoming place for him to be,” he said.
Farrell’s wife, Patty, would later add, “The thing I’m gonna miss most about Joe is his cute little smile. He had that way of just looking at you like he’d melt your heart and soul.”
Munz’ roommate and friend, Jason Mayes, told a story of a cupcake-cooking mishap he and Munz had, which brought out some laughter in an otherwise somber crowd. Mayes also spoke of the steak dinner that Munz cooked for him and his friends on the night he was killed.
Mayes thanked the Milwaukee Police Department and the Riverwest community for their help in apprehending Munz’ killer.
Kayla Labunski, a childhood friend of Munz, said, “Joe was the biggest teddy bear I have ever met in my whole entire life.”
Amanda Lulewicz, a friend of Munz and a UWM student, said she’d “give anything right now for one of those big bear hugs from him.”
One of the most touching stories came from Amanda Clemens, a childhood friend of Munz’ from his hometown of Lodi. She shared with the crowd her first encounter with Joe when she decided to play football with the boys. She then went on to tell a story of Munz, the matchmaker, who introduced her to a boy by the name of Ben. Through tears she exclaimed, “I am forever indebted to him because that man is going to be my husband in five months!”
Others shared stories of Joe and his job at a canning company back in his hometown that he spoke highly of, and the motorcycle that he worked so hard for. After the ceremonies, a book was left out for people to sign and to write messages for him.
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