Joseph E. Ham, age 86, of Cream Ridge died Sunday, April 13 at The Manor Care Center in Freehold. Born in Englishtown, NJ, he was a resident of Middletown for 42 years before moving to Cream Ridge 11 years ago. Joe was a graduate of Jamesburg High School and served in the Navy during World War II. He owned and operated Brookdale Mowers in Middletown for many years. Joe was a parishioner of the Church of the Assumption and also a member of the Knights of Columbus. He also was the Jensen’s Community Club President for 2 years. Joe is survived by his wife of 65 years, Shirley (nee Gerould) Ham; five children, Linda Palumbo and husband Anthony of Cream Ridge, David Ham of Middletown, Janet Natale and husband Robert of Myrtle Beach, SC, Karen Silakowski and husband Mark of Powhatan, VA and Susan DeVore and husband Billy of Lubbock, TX; two sisters and brothers-in-law, Emily and Frank Colaguori of West Long Branch and Lottie and Albert Cologuori of Long Branch; ten grandchildren and four great grandchildren. A Mass of Christian Burial for Joe will be held on Tuesday, April 22 at 10:00 AM at the Church of the Assumption, 28 Monmouth Road (Route 537), Wrightstown, NJ 08562 with burial to follow in the BGWCD Veterans Memorial Cemetery in Wrightstown. Calling hours will be on Monday, April 21 from 2:00 to 4:00 PM and 7:00 to 9:00 PM at the Tilghman Funeral Home, 52 Main Street in New Egypt (www.tilghmanfh.com). Due to cemetery restrictions, in lieu of flowers memorial contributions in Joe’s name can be made to the Knights of Columbus Scholarship Fund, Assumption Council 10900, P. O. Box 277, New Egypt, NJ 08533.