Obituary: Pekala, Joseph Reed
Age 67
PEKALA,
Joseph Reed
(Age 67)
Joe passed away peace- fully in his sleep on Sunday April 3, 2016 from natural causes.
He was born January 11, 1949 in Spokane to Joseph and Lucille (Reed) Pekala.
He grew up in the West Valley Community where he graduated from West Valley High School in 1967.
Upon graduation, Joe went on to take liberal arts courses at Community Colleges of Spokane until he decided to follow the path of both his parents and enlist with the U.S. Marine Corps on February 17, 1969 and proudly reached the rank of Corporal until honorably discharged from active duty on February 17, 1971.
Once returning to Spokane, Joe again followed the path of his father and became a printer.
While not at work Joe was set on sowing his wild oats until meeting the love of his life, Jill Swanson, who in 1976 became Mrs. Jill Pekala.
The young married couple left Spokane in 1977 and ventured north to Eagle River, Alaska where they started a family with the birth of their two daughters, Krystal and Hayley.
Joe had always looked back fondly of his years in Alaska where he says he spent “the best five years of his life” spending his time outside of work hunting, skiing, and enjoying the great outdoors in all of it’s glory.
In 1982, they moved back to Spokane and in 1984, Joe and Jill had their only son, Joseph Reed Pekala, Jr. and shortly thereafter moved to Issaquah, WA.
Joe’s career as a printer flourished over the years, and he was highly respected in the career he loved so much.
Joe and his family moved back to Spokane in 1989 where he spent the rest of his years enjoying his work, family, friends, camping and hiking with his kids, fishing and hunting, and playing sports including baseball, basket- ball, and golf.
His love of animals and the great outdoors were passed down to his children.
In addition to several close lifelong friends and relatives, Joe leaves behind his daughter Krystal, daughter Hayley, son Joseph, and his grandson Trent Bain, all of whom he loved with all of his heart.
He is preceded in death by his parents Joe and Lucille, and his sister Arlene McCuskey.
Joe will always be remembered for his generosity, unique style and sense of humor, and, of course, forever remembered as “the toughest man in Alaska. “
Viewing will take place Thursday April 14 and Friday April 15 at Heritage Funeral Home from 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Joe’s Funeral Service will be held Saturday, April 16, 2016 at 1 pm at Heritage Chapel followed by a graveside burial at Riverside Memorial Park in the Garden of Peace.