JOSEPH ARVO EKROOS

BENNINGTON — Joseph “Joey” Ekroos, age 70, died Wednesday, May 13, 2026, at the Bennington Veterans’ Home. Joe was born in Middlebury, Vt., Jan. 29, 1956, to Toivo and Jessie (McMurtry) Ekroos.

Joe attended Middlebury Union High School, where he played on the varsity basketball and football teams. After graduating high school in 1974, Joe enlisted in the United States Air Force, where he was deployed to the Persian Gulf during Operation Desert Storm. After serving his country honorably for 21 years, Joe retired and moved back to Addison County, Vt. Joe became a member of the American Red Cross Disaster Action Team.

Years later Joe also became a school bus driver for Betcha Transit and served as coach for the Mount Abraham High School football team.

Joe is predeceased by his parents, Jessie and Ted, and his four brothers, Ted, Ralph, Bill and Raymond. He leaves behind his wife; his only sister, Helen; his daughter, Erica; three granddaughters; and many nieces and nephews.

A service was held at Saratoga Memorial cemetery in Schuylerville, N.Y.◊