Obituary
Joseph Rodney Wachter, Joe to his friends and Opa to his grandchildren and greatgrandchildren, died peacefully in Hospice at Knollwood Retirement Community in Washington, D.C. on Saturday, July 3rd 2021.
Joe was born and raised in Hancock, MD. His hero was Don Quixote, which inspired his sense of adventure, dedication to service, and idealism. Orphaned at the age of two where his parents died in a car accident, he brought himself up to live the American Dream, despite having a hard beginning.
A twenty-one-year Army veteran, he served in the Korean and the Vietnam War. He was a member of the 5th Regimental Combat Team, 11th Airborne Division, and the Vietnam Military Assistance Advisory Group. He met and married his wife Elly while stationed in Ulm, Germany. He retired at the rank of SP7 as a systems analyst.
After being stationed in Europe and many parts of the US, he settled his family to Burlington, IA in 1979, taking a job with Chittenden and Eastman Company. In Burlington, he was a member of the Chamber of Commerce, Kiwanis Club, Toastmasters, Coast Guard Auxiliary, and refereed soccer for the YMCA. He was Chairman of the Burlington Riverfront Committee, leading the development of the city's Riverside Park.
His adventures continued into retirement as he travelled the world performing volunteer work, including two returns to Vietnam to help build schools for rural children. He showed a lifelong commitment to family and friends, hosting family reunions to strengthen the bonds of extended family, and reunions of his military unit to share memories and support with his fellow veterans.
His hobbies included travel, genealogy, computers, and history. His favorite shows were 60 Minutes and MASH. He loved quoting the movies Forrest Gump and The Jerk. He was a fan of the Iowa Hawkeyes and Washington Nationals. He played board games with his children. His favorite foods included pancakes and baloney sandwiches, but he hated chicken, which was weird. He owned some cool cars and once had a sharp leather jacket.
Joe is preceded in death by his wife Elly, who shared his life and made a home for him for 48 years. He is survived by his children Pamela Mace (Michael), Rodney, Randy (Stacey), and Victor, and his loving companion Rosemary Strange. His grandchildren are Christopher Whaley, Ryan Whaley, Rachel Wachter, Andrew Wachter, and Ian Mace. His great-grandchildren are Matthew Whaley, Rebecca Whaley, Jameson Wachter, and Aurora Mace.
Visitation for Joe will be at Lunning Funeral Chapel on Thursday, July 22nd 5pm until 7pm, where family will receive friends. Graveside Memorial Service with Full Military Honors will be held for Family members at the Keokuk National Cemetery on Friday, July 23rd at 10:30am. Live Video Streaming will be broadcasted.
To honor Joe's wishes, he would prefer donations to the following cause In lieu of flowers.
Christ House
1717 Columbia Rd, NW
Washington, DC 20009
(202) 328-1100
https://christhouse.org
Joseph Rodney Wachter, Joe to his friends and Opa to his grandchildren and greatgrandchildren, died peacefully in Hospice at Knollwood Retirement Community in Washington, D.C. on Saturday, July 3rd 2021.
Joe was born and raised in Hancock, MD. His hero was Don Quixote, which inspired his sense of adventure, dedication to service, and idealism. Orphaned at the age of two where his parents died in a car accident, he brought himself up to live the American Dream, despite having a hard beginning.
A twenty-one-year Army veteran, he served in the Korean and the Vietnam War. He was a member of the 5th Regimental Combat Team, 11th Airborne Division, and the Vietnam Military Assistance Advisory Group. He met and married his wife Elly while stationed in Ulm, Germany. He retired at the rank of SP7 as a systems analyst.
After being stationed in Europe and many parts of the US, he settled his family to Burlington, IA in 1979, taking a job with Chittenden and Eastman Company. In Burlington, he was a member of the Chamber of Commerce, Kiwanis Club, Toastmasters, Coast Guard Auxiliary, and refereed soccer for the YMCA. He was Chairman of the Burlington Riverfront Committee, leading the development of the city's Riverside Park.
His adventures continued into retirement as he travelled the world performing volunteer work, including two returns to Vietnam to help build schools for rural children. He showed a lifelong commitment to family and friends, hosting family reunions to strengthen the bonds of extended family, and reunions of his military unit to share memories and support with his fellow veterans.
His hobbies included travel, genealogy, computers, and history. His favorite shows were 60 Minutes and MASH. He loved quoting the movies Forrest Gump and The Jerk. He was a fan of the Iowa Hawkeyes and Washington Nationals. He played board games with his children. His favorite foods included pancakes and baloney sandwiches, but he hated chicken, which was weird. He owned some cool cars and once had a sharp leather jacket.
Joe is preceded in death by his wife Elly, who shared his life and made a home for him for 48 years. He is survived by his children Pamela Mace (Michael), Rodney, Randy (Stacey), and Victor, and his loving companion Rosemary Strange. His grandchildren are Christopher Whaley, Ryan Whaley, Rachel Wachter, Andrew Wachter, and Ian Mace. His great-grandchildren are Matthew Whaley, Rebecca Whaley, Jameson Wachter, and Aurora Mace.
Visitation for Joe will be at Lunning Funeral Chapel on Thursday, July 22nd 5pm until 7pm, where family will receive friends. Graveside Memorial Service with Full Military Honors will be held for Family members at the Keokuk National Cemetery on Friday, July 23rd at 10:30am. Live Video Streaming will be broadcasted.
To honor Joe's wishes, he would prefer donations to the following cause In lieu of flowers.
Christ House
1717 Columbia Rd, NW
Washington, DC 20009
(202) 328-1100
https://christhouse.org
Obituary
Joseph Rodney Wachter, Joe to his friends and Opa to his grandchildren and greatgrandchildren, died peacefully in Hospice at Knollwood Retirement Community in Washington, D.C. on Saturday, July 3rd 2021.
Joe was born and raised in Hancock, MD. His hero was Don Quixote, which inspired his sense of adventure, dedication to service, and idealism. Orphaned at the age of two where his parents died in a car accident, he brought himself up to live the American Dream, despite having a hard beginning.
A twenty-one-year Army veteran, he served in the Korean and the Vietnam War. He was a member of the 5th Regimental Combat Team, 11th Airborne Division, and the Vietnam Military Assistance Advisory Group. He met and married his wife Elly while stationed in Ulm, Germany. He retired at the rank of SP7 as a systems analyst.
After being stationed in Europe and many parts of the US, he settled his family to Burlington, IA in 1979, taking a job with Chittenden and Eastman Company. In Burlington, he was a member of the Chamber of Commerce, Kiwanis Club, Toastmasters, Coast Guard Auxiliary, and refereed soccer for the YMCA. He was Chairman of the Burlington Riverfront Committee, leading the development of the city's Riverside Park.
His adventures continued into retirement as he travelled the world performing volunteer work, including two returns to Vietnam to help build schools for rural children. He showed a lifelong commitment to family and friends, hosting family reunions to strengthen the bonds of extended family, and reunions of his military unit to share memories and support with his fellow veterans.
His hobbies included travel, genealogy, computers, and history. His favorite shows were 60 Minutes and MASH. He loved quoting the movies Forrest Gump and The Jerk. He was a fan of the Iowa Hawkeyes and Washington Nationals. He played board games with his children. His favorite foods included pancakes and baloney sandwiches, but he hated chicken, which was weird. He owned some cool cars and once had a sharp leather jacket.
Joe is preceded in death by his wife Elly, who shared his life and made a home for him for 48 years. He is survived by his children Pamela Mace (Michael), Rodney, Randy (Stacey), and Victor, and his loving companion Rosemary Strange. His grandchildren are Christopher Whaley, Ryan Whaley, Rachel Wachter, Andrew Wachter, and Ian Mace. His great-grandchildren are Matthew Whaley, Rebecca Whaley, Jameson Wachter, and Aurora Mace.
Visitation for Joe will be at Lunning Funeral Chapel on Thursday, July 22nd 5pm until 7pm, where family will receive friends. Graveside Memorial Service with Full Military Honors will be held for Family members at the Keokuk National Cemetery on Friday, July 23rd at 10:30am. Live Video Streaming will be broadcasted.
To honor Joe's wishes, he would prefer donations to the following cause In lieu of flowers.
Christ House
1717 Columbia Rd, NW
Washington, DC 20009
(202) 328-1100
https://christhouse.org
Joseph Rodney Wachter, Joe to his friends and Opa to his grandchildren and greatgrandchildren, died peacefully in Hospice at Knollwood Retirement Community in Washington, D.C. on Saturday, July 3rd 2021.
Joe was born and raised in Hancock, MD. His hero was Don Quixote, which inspired his sense of adventure, dedication to service, and idealism. Orphaned at the age of two where his parents died in a car accident, he brought himself up to live the American Dream, despite having a hard beginning.
A twenty-one-year Army veteran, he served in the Korean and the Vietnam War. He was a member of the 5th Regimental Combat Team, 11th Airborne Division, and the Vietnam Military Assistance Advisory Group. He met and married his wife Elly while stationed in Ulm, Germany. He retired at the rank of SP7 as a systems analyst.
After being stationed in Europe and many parts of the US, he settled his family to Burlington, IA in 1979, taking a job with Chittenden and Eastman Company. In Burlington, he was a member of the Chamber of Commerce, Kiwanis Club, Toastmasters, Coast Guard Auxiliary, and refereed soccer for the YMCA. He was Chairman of the Burlington Riverfront Committee, leading the development of the city's Riverside Park.
His adventures continued into retirement as he travelled the world performing volunteer work, including two returns to Vietnam to help build schools for rural children. He showed a lifelong commitment to family and friends, hosting family reunions to strengthen the bonds of extended family, and reunions of his military unit to share memories and support with his fellow veterans.
His hobbies included travel, genealogy, computers, and history. His favorite shows were 60 Minutes and MASH. He loved quoting the movies Forrest Gump and The Jerk. He was a fan of the Iowa Hawkeyes and Washington Nationals. He played board games with his children. His favorite foods included pancakes and baloney sandwiches, but he hated chicken, which was weird. He owned some cool cars and once had a sharp leather jacket.
Joe is preceded in death by his wife Elly, who shared his life and made a home for him for 48 years. He is survived by his children Pamela Mace (Michael), Rodney, Randy (Stacey), and Victor, and his loving companion Rosemary Strange. His grandchildren are Christopher Whaley, Ryan Whaley, Rachel Wachter, Andrew Wachter, and Ian Mace. His great-grandchildren are Matthew Whaley, Rebecca Whaley, Jameson Wachter, and Aurora Mace.
Visitation for Joe will be at Lunning Funeral Chapel on Thursday, July 22nd 5pm until 7pm, where family will receive friends. Graveside Memorial Service with Full Military Honors will be held for Family members at the Keokuk National Cemetery on Friday, July 23rd at 10:30am. Live Video Streaming will be broadcasted.
To honor Joe's wishes, he would prefer donations to the following cause In lieu of flowers.
Christ House
1717 Columbia Rd, NW
Washington, DC 20009
(202) 328-1100
https://christhouse.org
Family Members
Spouse
Sponsored by Ancestry
Advertisement
Records on Ancestry
Sponsored by Ancestry
Advertisement
