There’s not much that can be said that someone else hasn't already said or thought of. Joe was a lot of things to a lot of people. I think he was everything that God wants us to be. Like many others, Joe gave me what my father was unable to give in a lot of ways.
In 2002, my father had a massive stroke that affected him in many ways, as well as other factors. It’s certainly not that my father didn't want to give me things a good father should; it’s that he simply couldn't. One of the things Joe did for me was to give me a lot of what my father couldn't. He never tried to take my father’s place; instead, he just tried to be my friend. I took the opportunity to tell him this one day; it’s something I’m extremely glad I did.
On the lighter side, Joe was a very funny guy. He was secure enough to make fun of himself. Better yet, he was humble enough to make fun of himself. He was able take other people’s seemingly uncomfortable situations and them comfortable with humor. Joe was well known to do this; his humor always caught us off guard, yet his timing was perfect.
When I was younger I enjoyed deer hunting. For various reasons I gave it up; I fell out of love with it. Later in life, I began to get back in touch with my past and the things I loved. Joe invited me out to hunt a couple of times before I took him up on the offer. I didn’t have a rifle, hunting clothes, or much of anything. It didn’t matter to Joe. He just wanted me out there. Joe was a good teacher. He taught me more about deer hunting, but more importantly he taught me about life most of the time we were hunting. He invited me back after that first hunt for many more hunts and he was always more thrilled than I was when I killed a deer. He taught me how to enjoy hunting more than I ever had; I had fallen back in love with hunting.
More than anything else, Joe loved his family. Bryson is very young and Joe’s legacy might end up being what is passed on to him more than anything else. To me, Bryson’s success in life is what Joe always had in mind while raising him. Joe thought that most men give 100% at work, but not at home. He believed that more effort should be given at home than anywhere else. Joe loved to help people and be of service to them in many different ways. He would spend hours talking to people every day, but when he got home he would always tell me he had to go be with his family. Family, that’s thing Joe valued the most.