Joshua Michael Fox

Joshua Michael Fox, age 30, passed on August 27, 2023. Josh was born in Kokomo, Indiana to Michael D. Fox and Elisa D. Vazquez (Cowan) on July 5, 1993. He graduated from Taylor High School in 2013. He attended Ivy Tech where he was a member and President of the Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society. 

For those who know Josh, you know that he came into this world facing many physical battles. As a result of multiple birth defects, he endured many surgeries that, unfortunately, shaped his life in more ways than any of us could imagine. But through it all, he was strong and had the courage to persevere and pursue things he was told would be a great challenge with his conditions. His smile could melt your heart. His hugs were genuine and undeniably filled with love. His laughs were full and contagious.

Josh enjoyed playing and watching sports. As a child, he played baseball, football, and basketball. As a teenager, he played the nationally acclaimed sport of video games. He enjoyed watching the Colts with his dad and the Dodgers and White Sox with his grandpa Steve. He shared his grandpa Don’s love for the North Carolina Tar Heels and his uncle Brian and uncle David’s love for the Notre Dame Fighting Irish. 

Josh loved spending time with his family. His inner peace seemed to be most centered when he was surrounded by family – whether spending time one on one or during holidays and family vacations orchestrated by his Aunt Kim. He enjoyed playing pool on a regular basis with both his mom and his dad.  He was the family grill master, developing an early love for food from his grandma Norma. He could be talked into playing several hands of Euchre with his mom and grandparents. He loved the game of Spades, which he graciously and enthusiastically did his best to teach his family to play on a recent trip to visit his sister in Michigan despite our inability to master the same level of skill that Josh possessed. On that same trip, we enjoyed a day of kayaking. As it was our second recent kayaking trip, he told his Aunt Holly that we were now a “kayaking family.” He loved being there to support his family, showing up for encouragement like he did during his cousin Conner’s Trap season this spring; mowing his parent’s and grandparent’s yards; never hesitating to help family with countless moves; and caring for his grandma Norma when her health declined. He loved children and would have loved to have had his own. He could always be found entertaining his friends’ children, and he was thrilled that his cousin, Isabella, recently gave birth to her son, Lucas. 

Josh loved stand-up comedy, music – rap, hip-hop, and classic rock, working on cars – especially his black ‘98 Cadillac Seville, and challenging himself to learn new things like he recently did building a solar panel system with his dad. He was a philosophical soul who had an endless curiosity about the world and empathy for those around him – a trait that made him a close and loyal confidant to many over the course of his life. He was a statistics guy – analytical like his father. He shared his mother’s creative spirit for writing and entertaining people through a joke, a rap, or his own musings. Josh and his sister were often described as polar opposites growing up, but they were always there to be what the other one needed – a protector to a nurturer, a math tutor to a diorama builder, a rapper to a hype (wo)man (with family footage to prove it) and discovered more common ground in adulthood. 

Josh was kind and respectful – everyone who met him said the same. He was a good person who struggled to find his way in a world that never made it easy for him. He was loved to the ends of the earth by his family. His absence has created a hole in our lives that we will never be able to understand or fill.  He leaves behind his father, Michael Fox, mother Elisa Vasquez (Juan), sister Jessica Fox (Jordan), grandparents Steve and Chloie Cowan, aunt Kim Howard (Brian), aunt Holly Pierce (Tim), uncle Brad Fox, uncle David Fox, cousins Katie Pierce, Kyle Pierce (Chloe), Isabella Krompack and Conner Krompack and a group of long-time friends. He was preceded in death by his paternal grandmother Norma J. Fleener, his paternal grandfather Donald Fox and wife Judith Fox, and his uncle Brian Krompack. 

On Saturday, September 9, 2023, there will be a Memorial gathering at the Red Dog Saloon outdoor pavilion, 211 E. Morgan Street, Kokomo, Indiana from 1 pm – 3 pm. Red Dog Saloon is a place where Josh enjoyed playing pool. Family and friends are welcome to stop by and share memories and/or play a game of pool in Josh’s memory.  

There will be a private family viewing held for Joshua at Shirley & Stout Funeral Home in Kokomo, Indiana.  For those interested in showing support, instead of flowers, the family requests donations be made in Josh's memory to Turning Point, a local recovery center. Please see the 'Donations' section below for guidance on making a donation. 

Donations: 

Thank you for showing your support by making a donation in Josh's memory. Please provide your 1) name, 2) mailing address, and 3) a "In memory of Joshua Fox" note with your donation by either means below to make the family aware of your donation. 

By mail: Send your donation with the requested information to: 
Turning Point (A System of Care)
1234 N. Courtland Ave., Kokomo IN 46901

Online: Select the 'Donate' button at www.turningpointsoc.org/donate/ and include the requested information in the 'Write a note/Add a note to your donation' section.

To send flowers to the family, please visit our floral store.