My Dad and I
My heart breaks as I post this tribute, written together by my siblings, mother and I for his funeral, in honor of my Amazing, Wonderful Father:
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~~In Loving Memory of Joseph Richard Balsiger~~
Husband, father, grandfather, brother, uncle, cousin, friend, HERO - all titles we’ve used to describe one amazing man. Joseph Richard Balsiger left this Earth to be with Jesus on Sunday, October 19th. 2008.
Joe was born to Henry Lee and Pauline (Hearn) Balsiger in Hood River, Oregon on November 8th, 1943. The youngest of Henry and Pauline’s children, Joe was welcomed into his family by siblings Ray, Phillis and Henry. Being raised in White Salmon, Joe graduated from Columbia High School in 1963. He joined the United States Navy, serving from 1965 to 1967, on the USS Kitty Hawk with his brother, Henry, during the Vietnam War. After leaving the military, he worked at SDS Lumber Company and then on to the City of White Salmon, where he retired from the Public Works Department after 30 years of service.
Joe was a dedicated, loving husband to Mariland and an incredible father to Randy and his wife, Gladys; Tracey and her husband, Steve; Lisa and her husband, Jorge; and Tyler and his wife, Kristy.
Joe lived his life an honest, hardworking, patient man who made certain his family was always provided for, no matter what. There was never a limit to the amount of love and compassion he bestowed on his family and friends.
Joe and Mariland were blessed with the “Perfect Dozen”. Twelve grandchildren! Six boys and six girls: Michyle, Mariah, Giles, Ian, McKenna, Miranda, Savannah, Sydney, Dade, Sophia, Antonio and Josiah. Papa was so very loved by his grandchildren. Joe’s trademark sense of humor included him always trying to be the first to say the phrase, “Glad you got to see me” before his children and grandchildren could when they were saying goodbye. It became a game to be the first to say it!
Joe was an avid outdoorsman who loved hunting, fishing, camping, picking mushrooms and berries and doing anything in the outdoors with his family. Deer and elk hunting was a favorite pastime of his. Over the years, Joe and his sons had adopted the tradition of the boys taking care of the animals he had taken...due to the fact that after he shot the animal he would get so excited he couldn’t stop talking, he would relive the whole hunt in every detail and he would be shaking so badly that he couldn’t even light a cigarette. They would just ask him for his knife and dress the animal out for him, they were honestly afraid he might cut a finger or two off.
Joe was very proud to have got a three point buck the Tuesday before his surgery!
Joe and Mariland enjoyed spending as much time as possible at their place on the coast in Grayland, where everyone was always invited. At the coast, Joe enjoyed fishing, crabbing off the docks, and searching for moonstones in the sand. But most of all spending time with his family and friends. Joe & Mariland shocked many of their family when they showed their rebellious side by coming home with new tattoos they got at the coast one year.
Although he may have rolled his eyes when Mom suggested shopping, you would never see Mom at a yard sale or Walmart without Dad there with her.
We know if Dad were here right now he would be passing out his cure-all hugs to each one of us. If you were ever fortunate enough to receive one of his famous hugs, you know why it is one of the many things we are missing so much right now about him.
Joe was a positive influence on so many people’s lives, he was always there for us and he will be deeply missed by all who knew and loved him.
Husband, father, grandfather, brother, uncle, cousin, friend, HERO - all titles we’ve used to describe one amazing man. Joseph Richard Balsiger left this Earth to be with Jesus on Sunday, October 19th. 2008.
Joe was born to Henry Lee and Pauline (Hearn) Balsiger in Hood River, Oregon on November 8th, 1943. The youngest of Henry and Pauline’s children, Joe was welcomed into his family by siblings Ray, Phillis and Henry. Being raised in White Salmon, Joe graduated from Columbia High School in 1963. He joined the United States Navy, serving from 1965 to 1967, on the USS Kitty Hawk with his brother, Henry, during the Vietnam War. After leaving the military, he worked at SDS Lumber Company and then on to the City of White Salmon, where he retired from the Public Works Department after 30 years of service.
Joe was a dedicated, loving husband to Mariland and an incredible father to Randy and his wife, Gladys; Tracey and her husband, Steve; Lisa and her husband, Jorge; and Tyler and his wife, Kristy.
Joe lived his life an honest, hardworking, patient man who made certain his family was always provided for, no matter what. There was never a limit to the amount of love and compassion he bestowed on his family and friends.
Joe and Mariland were blessed with the “Perfect Dozen”. Twelve grandchildren! Six boys and six girls: Michyle, Mariah, Giles, Ian, McKenna, Miranda, Savannah, Sydney, Dade, Sophia, Antonio and Josiah. Papa was so very loved by his grandchildren. Joe’s trademark sense of humor included him always trying to be the first to say the phrase, “Glad you got to see me” before his children and grandchildren could when they were saying goodbye. It became a game to be the first to say it!
Joe was an avid outdoorsman who loved hunting, fishing, camping, picking mushrooms and berries and doing anything in the outdoors with his family. Deer and elk hunting was a favorite pastime of his. Over the years, Joe and his sons had adopted the tradition of the boys taking care of the animals he had taken...due to the fact that after he shot the animal he would get so excited he couldn’t stop talking, he would relive the whole hunt in every detail and he would be shaking so badly that he couldn’t even light a cigarette. They would just ask him for his knife and dress the animal out for him, they were honestly afraid he might cut a finger or two off.
Joe was very proud to have got a three point buck the Tuesday before his surgery!
Joe and Mariland enjoyed spending as much time as possible at their place on the coast in Grayland, where everyone was always invited. At the coast, Joe enjoyed fishing, crabbing off the docks, and searching for moonstones in the sand. But most of all spending time with his family and friends. Joe & Mariland shocked many of their family when they showed their rebellious side by coming home with new tattoos they got at the coast one year.
Although he may have rolled his eyes when Mom suggested shopping, you would never see Mom at a yard sale or Walmart without Dad there with her.
We know if Dad were here right now he would be passing out his cure-all hugs to each one of us. If you were ever fortunate enough to receive one of his famous hugs, you know why it is one of the many things we are missing so much right now about him.
Joe was a positive influence on so many people’s lives, he was always there for us and he will be deeply missed by all who knew and loved him.
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