Jose “Joe” Pangelinan Materne died June 27, 2002, at Whidbey General Hospital; he had suffered a stroke while clamming a few days earlier.

Joe was born Feb. 16, 1921, in Agana, Guam. He joined the U.S. Navy May 4, 1940, and was a crewmember aboard the cruiser USS Salt Lake City when Pearl Harbor was attacked Dec. 7, 1941. He defended our country through wars, natural disasters and times of peace. His personality was one of great pride and dignity in being an American and serving his country.

Joe retired from the Navy in 1965 after serving aboard the USS Salisbury, homeported on Whidbey Island and chose Oak Harbor as his retirement home. He later joined federal civil service and retired again after 13 years; accumulating 38 years of government service.

Joe was also a local businessman, cattle rancher and farmer; he was active in his church and community and an honorary life member of Knights of Columbus.

Joe is survived by his wife of more than 56 years, the former Catalina “Nina” San Nicholas Rivera; his sons Joseph Rivera Materne of Kent and Rudy Rivera Materne of Oak Harbor; his daughters Janice Materne Creamer of Mukilteo and Amparo R. Mesa of Guam; grandchildren Albert “Butch,” Jonathan, Alonzo Jr., Monte, Tiffany, Jessica, Bernadet, Kelsi, Katrina, Kari, Melanya, Kaila and Trenton; great-grandchildren Casey, Shelby, Sheridan, Mariah, Koryssa, Nicholas, Angel and Dakota; sons-in-law Alonzo “Lonie” Steveson Sr. and Robert “Bob” Creamer; daughters-in-law Peggy Materne, Brigitte Berg, Vicki Materne, Emily Brooks and Linda Larson; granddaughters-in-law Lisa Norton and Candice Steveson and brother-in-law Jose San Nicholas Rivera and his wife Betty. A multitude of cousins, nephews and nieces also survive.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Antonio and Josepha Materne and a daughter, Kathernie Materne Steveson.

A rosary is being recited nightly at 7 p.m. at St. Augustine’s Catholic Church. A funeral wake and viewing will be held Sunday, June 30, at 7 p.m. at St. Augustine’s Catholic Church, Oak Harbor. A funeral service will be held at 10 a.m. Monday, July 1, at St. Augustine’s followed by burial at Maple Leaf Cemetery.

Memorials may be made to the Materne family, 1386 E. Whidbey Ave., Oak Harbor, WA 98277. Funeral arrangements are under the direction of Burley Funeral Chapel. This obituary is at http://burley.plan4ever.com.