Joseph Emerich

Joseph Emerich, age 81, of Grants Pass, died Thursday, December 2, 2010 at Spring Village.

No services are planned. Hull & Hull Funeral Directors are in charge of arrangements.

Joseph was born June 25, 1929 in Winamac, Indiana to Glen & Eliza Emerich. He moved with his family to California where he was raised and graduated from Vallejo High School. He joined the United States Air Force and served in Japan. After his discharge he married Donna Powers on August 17, 1951 in Tacoma, Washington. He worked in maintenance and repair on the P38 Mustang airplane and was a nuclear test specialist for the civil service at Mare Island Naval Ship Yard. He lived in California until 1992 when he moved to Grants Pass.

He was a lifetime member of the Disabled American Veterans and a member of the Vacaville Drag Racing Association.

His hobbies included fishing, camping, cars, and he especially enjoyed building hot rods.

Survivors include his wife, Donna Emerich of Grants Pass; two daughters, Judy Hanson of Browns Valley, California and Debbie Lippolis of Grants Pass; a son, Dennis Emerich of Grants Pass; seven grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.