Joseph Edward Koles

Joseph Edward Hake Koles, 94, of District Heights, MD, passed away February 12, 2021, at Adventist Hospital in White Oak, MD, of a heart attack. He was born May 1, 1926, in Newark, NJ, to Joseph Peter Koles (formerly Koleszar) and Marie Elizabeth (Hake) Koles.

Joseph graduated from Barringer High School, Newark, NJ, Class of 1943. He served with the U.S. Army from 1944 to 1947 during World War II in the 82nd Airborne, 325th Glider Division, obtaining the rank of Technical Sergeant 3.

After his military service, he received a BS in Chemistry from Rutgers University in 1952. He earned his Master’s in Analytical Chemistry from the University of Kentucky in 1955. He later received an honorary PhD from McCrone Research Institute in Chicago.

He worked as a chemist for the Colgate-Palmolive Company in New Jersey, before specializing in forensic chemistry, working first for the Florida Sheriff’s Bureau; and then the U.S. Army Crime Lab in Fort Gordon, GA, and Frankfurt, Germany. Afterward, he went to work for the Food and Drug Administration’s Division of Pharmaceutical Chemistry and Microanalytical Group. Mr. Koles was one of six scientists moved from FDA to the Special Testing and Research Laboratory for the newly formed Bureau of Narcotics and Dangerous Drugs (BNDD).  BNDD was moved from Treasury to the Justice Department and in 1973 became the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA). His work at the DEA focused on identification of suspicious substances through microscopic analysis. He was also involved in training other forensic scientists through classes at University of Maryland College Park, the McCrone Institute in Chicago, and conferences nationally and internationally through the DEA. He retired from the DEA in September 2000.

Joseph married Wilma Helen Boyer on October 6, 1956, at St. Rose of Lima in Newark, NJ. They were married 64 years. He was a devout Catholic and served as a lector and in various other capacities at parishes throughout his life. He and Wilma were also active in the Cursillo movement.  He volunteered in many places in the community, including the University of Maryland College Park, the Smithsonian Annex Research Center, the Share Food Network, SOME (So Others Might Eat), and the Prince George’s County Library System. He was a faithful blood donor until recently. He was an artist, an avid reader, and book collector; helped Wilma with stamp collecting, especially with country identification, sorting, and language translation; worked puzzles; and loved to collect samples from nature to examine under the microscope.

In addition to his parents, he was predeceased by his three brothers: Richard Thomas Koles, Lawrence Vincent Koles, and Edward Andrew Koles. Surviving in addition to his wife, Wilma (Boyer) Koles, are his eight children: Mary Ellen Koles, District Heights; Nancy Louise Koles (late Josef Wonsever), Severn; Janet Ann Koles, College Park; Patricia Joan Koles, Brunswick, GA; Susan Marie Burkhart (David), Wentzville, MO; Elizabeth Ruth Taylor (Bill), Forest Home, AL; Katherine Lynn Ross, Brunswick, GA; and Timothy Edward Koles (Amy Beaven), Glenn Dale. Also surviving are his eight grandchildren and one great-grandchild: William Joseph Taylor, Falls Church, VA; Craig Mathew Burkhart, Harrogate, UK; James Andrew Wonsever, San Francisco, CA; Kyle Anthony Burkhart, O’Fallon, MO; Jennifer Ann Wonsever (Nathan Powers), St. Cloud, MN; Caleb Kenneth Ross, Statesboro, GA; Jacob Ian Ross, Statesboro, GA; and Shannon Olivia Patricia Ross, Brunswick, GA; and Josef David Wonsever Powers, St. Cloud, MN.

No services will be held at this time. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to McCrone Research Institute, Inc. (2820 S. Michigan Avenue Chicago, IL 60616-3230, 312-842-7100, https://charity.gofundme.com/mccroneresearchinstituteinc) or SHARE Food Network (3222 Hubbard Rd, Landover, MD 20785, 1-800-21-SHARE, https://www.catholiccharitiesdc.org/share/).