Joseph Theodor Smith

Dec. 8, 1930-Jan. 9, 2016

Joseph Theodor Smith, 85, of Ninilchik died Jan. 9, 2016, at South Peninsula Hospital in Homer. Services are at 2 p.m. Jan. 23, 2016, at VFW Post 9365, 301 East Lake View Ave., Wasilla, 907-376-5820, with Robert Welch officiating.

Joseph was born Dec. 8. 1930, to Floyd and Ellen Smith in Kanakanak, Bristol Bay, Alaska.

His family said, “The family came to Bristol Bay in the 1920s, moved to Wasilla in the 1940s where Joe graduated high school and the family still lives today. Joe fished the waters of Alaska for 27 years out of Seldovia and Bristol Bay. He later owned Wasilla Arctic Cat for 17 years until he retired to Petersville with wife, Jane, where they owned Catballou Lodge. Joe eventually retired to Ninilchik where he still loved fishing and gardening. It seemed there was always an adventure with many close friends that became like family.”

Joe loved fishing, hunting, snowmachining and even helped to break the first trail for the Iditarod from Anchorage to Nome. He had also served his country proudly in the U.S. Air Force during the Korean Conflict and was a prisoner of war for 13 months.

Joe was preceded in death by his sisters, Marie and Ethel, and brother, Dave.

He is survived by his loving wife, Jane; daughter, Melody, and husband Bill Fletcher of Wasilla; son, Mike Uher and wife, Cheryl; step son, John Parson, and wife, Deborah of Louisville, Ky.; grandchildren, Josie, Cotton, Chloe and Jay Lee of Wasilla and Brittany and Bryan Parson of Los Angeles, California; brother, Frank Smith of Wasilla; and many nieces and nephews.

Memorials may be given in Joseph’s name to Alzheimer’s Resource of Alaska,  1705 Abbott Rd. Anchorage, AK 99507,  907-561-3313,  www.alzalaska.org.