William Joseph “Joe” Dethloff Jr., 57, died Oct. 18, 2002, after a year-long illness with cancer.
Visitations will be until 7 o’clock tonight and on Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Coles Funeral Home, 1950 Place St. Vigil service will be at 7 p.m. Friday at St. Francis de Sales Cathedral, First and Church streets. Mass of Christian Burial will be at 10 a.m. Saturday at the cathedral.
The Most Rev. Thomas J. Connolly and the Revs. Robert C. Irwin and James P. Logan will concelebrate the Mass. The Rev. Mr. James R. Watt will assist. Honor guard will be by the Bishop Leipzig General Assembly, Fourth Degree, Knights of Columbus. Interment will be at the Rock Creek Cemetery.
Born April 5, 1945, at Vanport to William J. and Mary Steward Dethloff, Joe attended school in Portland. He was a 1963 graduate of North Catholic High School.
After three years of college at Portland State University, he enlisted in the U.S. Navy. He completed four years of active duty having served on the USS Ray and USS Carp as a sonar technician. He was discharged in May of 1970, but continued to serve in the Navy Reserves for an additional 26 years, retiring in 1997 as a senior chief.
Joe went to work for the U.S. Post Office starting as a letter carrier in 1970. He married Arlene Mary Haberman on Aug. 5, 1972, at Portland.
They moved to Rock Creek in 1976 fulfilling his longtime dream to begin farming, in addition to working for the Baker City Post Office. He continued as a letter carrier until being promoted to postmaster at Sumpter. He was transferred to the North Powder Post Office as postmaster in 1993 where he worked until the time of his death.
Joe was an active volunteer in many organizations. He was a former president and treasurer of the Wolf Creek Grange. He was a member and former officer of the North Powder Lions Club. He was a former vice chairman of the Baker County Planning Commission.
As a member of the Knights of Columbus, he was elected to the office of grand knight and was also honored as “Knight of the Year” in 1986 for his dedication and service. He served on the Parish Council for St. Francis de Sales Church where he had been an active member since 1976.
Since 1975 until present, Joe and his wife, Arlene, had been involved in marriage encounter. He was given special recognition at St. Francis for his “Smokin’ Joe’s Chili Feed,” a fund-raiser for local nonprofit organizations such as the Rachel House. He also attended and participated in various activities at St. Anthony Church at North Powder, distributing food baskets at Thanksgiving and Christmas to people in need.
Joe was a devoted husband and father. He loved his church and he loved Jesus. His faith was the center of his life and he was willing to share it with those around him. Joe is best known for his sense of humor and generous spirit, always making time to acknowledge the people that he encountered throughout his day. He was often found giving a helping hand to someone in need.
He was preceded in death by his father, William J. Dethloff, and grandparents, William E. and Pearl L. Steward.
Besides his many, many friends, Joe is survived by his wife, Arlene; son and daughter-in-law, Marty and Destini Dethloff; daughter and son-in-law, Josie and Chuck Graven; son, David Dethloff; his grandchildren, Kristiana, Sean, Marcus, Abby, and Jodie; his mother, Mary L. Dethloff; sister, Mary G.; sisters and brothers-in-law, Theresa and David Schierman, Carolyn and Mike Cain and Connie and Tim Gassner; brothers and sisters-in-law, Tom and Shary Dethloff and Ron and Chris Dethloff; and 24 beloved nieces and nephews.
Memorial contributions may be made to Providence Hospice or St. Francis Food Bank through Coles Funeral Home, 1950 Place St., Baker City, OR 97814.
Used with permission from: Baker City Herald, Baker City, Oregon, October 25, 2002
Transcribed by: Belva Ticknor