Joseph A. Kiefer was surrounded by his loving family May 25, 2008, when he passed away. Joe was born Aug. 17, 1930, in Ashtabula, Ohio.

In 1948 he graduated from Fairview High School in Dayton, Ohio. He served in the 148th Infantry Division in the National Guar, Toledo, Ohio, through October 1949. Before joining the Navy, he learned radio and TV repair at a local trade school. He joined the Navy in 1951 and served his country for four years, which included the Korean conflict. While in the Navy he met Katie Kolb of Denver, Colo. They married on Oct. 23, 1954, at St. Patrick’s Church in Denver.

Joseph and Katie came to Oak Harbor in 1969 with five children and the family dog. After moving here to work on the EA-6B Prowler, Joe worked 22 years as a tech rep for the NAESU at Whidbey Naval Air Station. He retired from NAESU in June of 1989. He still had a lot of energy, so he worked ten years for Puget Sound Energy as a flagger. Joe enjoyed driving, so he also worked as a paper delivery man, driving the wee hours of the morning for ten years. After that, he decided that he and Katie needed a vacation, so they took off for almost a year, traveling in their motor home with their dog, Sandy. They visited over 40 states.

Since 2005 Hoe had had many health problems, and in August 2007 he was diagnosed with cancer. he fought a great battle and finally needed to rest in heaven.

He is survived by his wife Katie Kiefer and their children, Larry and Darlene Kiefer of Oak Harbor, Linda and Ron Macoubrie of Bonnie Lake, Joe and Peggy Kiefer of Chaguiak, Alaska, Cathy and Larry Jacobs of Commiskey, Ind., and Jim and Oksana Kiefer of New York City; 14 grandchildren, six great grandchildren and a nice and a nephew.

Please send any memorial contributions to Home Health Care Hospice of Whidbey General Hospital, Coupeville.