Joseph E. Scheiblauer

Joseph E. Scheiblauer, 87, passed away peacefully June 3, 2013, in Grants Pass, OR. Born in St. Paul, MN in July 1925, he was the eldest of three siblings. As his mother died when he was only 9 at the height of the Great Depression, Joe was given large household duties at a young age. When World War ll broke out Joe joined the Navy on his 17th birthday.

Joe had exceptional eyesight and was trained as an anti-aircraft and anti-submarine gunner. He was assigned to the 'Armed Guard', a small unit of Navy gunners placed aboard Merchant Marine and Navy cargo vessels to defend them while deployed in convoys. Joe made five Atlantic convoy crossings, including the feared run to Murmansk, Russia. The Armed Guard had the highest killed-in-action percentage of all branches of the service as surviving in the North Atlantic if sunk was unlikely. Joe used to say that between U boats, air raids and terrible weather it was the weather that was the most dangerous. Otherwise lucky, he was pitched into a ship’s rail during a storm severely damaging his teeth. Later in the war Joe was transferred to Seattle where the Navy was preparing for the invasion of Japan. It was there that he met Martha Freze at a USO dance. She describes him- picked out of a crowd of other admiring servicemen-as “really cute, and what a dancer!” He said of her, “the prettiest girl in the room!”. They were married in Seattle in November 1945. Discharged from the regular Navy in early 1946, Joe re-enlisted in the Naval Reserve serving as a gunnery instructor for four years. He was very proud of his military service.

In his early family life Joe was employed at a bank, managed a Montana ranch and worked in construction. In late 1946 son Joseph was born, followed by Stephen in 1949. Joe, Martha and their sons settled in Seal Beach, Orange County, CA where they resided 22 years. Joe became a general contractor, building and at times designing custom homes relying only on consistent referrals for projects. In 1970 Joe and Martha moved to Gold Hill, OR where he all-but hand built their home on 80 acres. Joe worked in construction in Josephine and Jackson Counties until his retirement in 1985. Five years later Joe and Martha moved to Weimer, then on to Grants Pass.

Joe was very musical and loved Dixieland jazz, as did Martha. His enthusiasm for Dixieland began on a long riverboat cruise down the Mississippi as a youngster and was sealed by his time in New Orleans when in training for the Navy. In 1979 they joined the Misfits Dixieland Band and in 1982 they started the Kingfish Jazz Band. Later they founded the Dixie Fat Cats Jazz Band. While these bands played for hire, Joe and Martha also formed several smaller groups that played schools and retirement homes for free. Joe could pick up and play several instruments but he mainly played the 4-string banjo. Many friendships came to be during this time, and have endured. Joe and Martha also loved to camp and fish enjoying many travels in their RV's. One couldn’t be around Joe for long without seeing his sense of humor, sometimes even setting up a practical joke on a friend or relative who he knew would laugh.

Joe is survived by his loved and loving wife of 67 years, Martha; sister Beverly Lyons of Red Lake Falls, MN; step-brother Richard Eddings (Karen) of Yorkville, IL; sons Joe (Marla) of San Diego, CA and Steve (Kim) of Santa Cruz, CA; plus four grandchildren and three great grandchildren-with a fourth due in July. He was predeceased by his brother Bruce.

The family wishes to express their gratitude to Joe’s caretakers: CC Care Services-especially Jordan and Robert who went beyond the call; the staff at Autumn House (Nancy and Dale) for making his last months more comfortable; VA Home Health Services; Lovejoy Hospice, whose nurses are angels of mercy and the staff at Spring Hill Retirement Home for their acts of support. We also thank Bruce Murray, MD for his years of attentive and compassionate care.

Contributions can be made in Joe’s name to the veterans organization 'Wounded Warriors': www.woundedwarriorproject.org, (877-958-2233) or to charity of your choice. A memorial and celebration of Joe's life will be held August 17, 2pm, at Spring Meadow Retirement Home, in Grants Pass, OR.