Joe Cahalan of Clarkston passed away peacefully Feb. 16, 2013, at Tri-State Memorial Hospital. He was surrounded by his wife, three children, several grandchildren and many family members who were dear to him.
He was born Dec. 24, 1922, at home on a farm in Claremont, Iowa, to Pearl and Frank Cahalan. This last Christmas Eve his family celebrated his 90th birthday. His grandson, Spencer, said that Grandpa was one day older than Jesus. After graduating from high school, he worked various jobs until the war broke out in Pearl Harbor. He enlisted in the U.S. Navy and was a signal man on a landing ship, tank for three years. In 1943, Joe was one of about 44 men sent by the Navy to take a landing craft to North Tonawanda, N.Y. The sailors were housed by local residents, and Joe eventually met a young boy named Bobby. Joe was a 19-year-old Iowa farm boy, and Bobby taught him how to ride a bike for the first time in his life. Joe never forgot this, so in 1992, he traveled with his wife, June, to North Tonawanda and was able to reconnect with Bobby. He was honorably discharged in 1946 and moved to Lewiston. He was working at a Texaco service station when he met his wife-to-be, June Yates. He asked her out on a date, and they have been together ever since. They were married for 56 years and enjoyed celebrating their 50th wedding anniversary at Hells Gate State Park with family and friends.
Joe retired from the Lewiston Post Office after working there for 30 years, both on the window and as a mail carrier. He delivered mail to most of Lewiston, as he changed routes often. There wasn't an address in town that Joe couldn't find. He disliked retirement and immediately got a job as an unpaid waiter at the Mighty Potato in Lewiston. He disliked people tipping him even more though, as he felt he was taking money away from young waiters who needed it more than he did. After leaving that job, he and his wife managed the "on the way to the dump" store in St. Vincent de Paul in Clarkston for a year. He finally found his niche, and ended up working for the Asotin County Food Bank for the last 15 years. He adopted Grantham Elementary School in Clarkston, and loved to bring fruit and goodies to the kids, who knew him as "Grandpa Joe." Joe picked up food from many local grocery stores for the food bank, and made many new friends along the way.
One of Joe's greatest passions in life, aside from his family, was singing karaoke. He followed his favorite DJ, Lightning Larry. He used to quote Bing Crosby, saying "You should always sing what your audience wants, not what you want." He always got the most cheers when he sang his crowd favorite, "Family Tradition" by Hank Williams Jr. His daughter, Patty, and her husband, Mike, sang karaoke with Joe on the weekends for the last five years. They both got to hear how wonderful Joe was from all of his fans who came to listen to him sing.
Joe and June loved going on Elderhostel trips and traveled all over the United States. They also loved to work in the garden at their Clarkston home together, although Joe usually pulled just as many plants as he did weeds.
Dad and Grandpa Joe was adored by his family. They admired him for his compassion, humor and strong work ethic. He is truly an inspiration to the younger generation to be your own person and be true to who you are and to care about helping others.
Joe is survived by his wife, June Cahalan of Clarkston; son, Timothy and Sheila Cahalan of Wenatchee; daughters, Teri Cannon and Brian Predmore of Wenatchee, and Patricia Strasser-Wilks and Mike Wilks of Clarkston; grandchildren, Andy Hartman, wife Keri, Faith Richards, husband Greggory, Monica Cahalan, Angela Gates, Dionne Austin, Cassy Cannon, Holly Strasser, Jeremy Strasser and Spencer Strasser; and nine great-grandchildren; sister, Mary and Richard Davis of Minneapolis; and brother, Jack and Ginny Cahalan of Kansas City, Mo. Joe was preceded in death by his brothers, Jim, Paul and George; and his sister, Elizabeth.
A funeral Mass will be held at 10:30 a.m. March 2 at Holy Family Catholic Parish in Clarkston. A dinner will be served there immediately following the service. A celebration of Joe's life is planned for later on in the spring. Memorial donations may be made to the Asotin County Food Bank.
