Joseph Lewis Mettler Jr.

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Created on Thursday, 17 November 2016 14:09

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Joseph Lewis Mettler Jr.

Former Sitkan Joseph Lewis Mettler Jr. passed away on Nov. 15, 2016, surrounded by his family, in Burlington, Wash.

Joe was born on May 22, 1945, to Joseph and Clara (Kepper) Mettler in Morton, Washington. 

He attended school in Morton, Concrete and Snoqualmie, Wash., until he graduated from Mount Si High School in 1963. 

When he was 17, Joe and his younger brother Jack followed their father in the tradition of “Trailer Backing” at the Morton Loggers Jubilee. He backed a log truck and trailer in a figure 8 around spar trees. He competed for a few years until he moved to Southeast Alaska. Jack continued the family tradition for 50 years. 

Right out of high school, Joe worked as a “powder monkey” on the John Day Dam. After moving to Southeast Alaska, he worked various jobs such as logging, road construction, and diesel mechanic. He also worked on the Alaska Pipeline.

In 1990, he moved to the Skagit Valley, where he worked as a project supervisor at Lakeside Industries, later starting his own business, Mettler and Sons Trucking. 

Joe was a member of the Operating Engineers #302, Elks Lodge, Eagles and Moose Lodge. He served on the Sitka Police and Fire Commission, was a member of the Sitka Cemetery Board and the Chamber of Commerce.

He paved most of the airports in Southeast and most of the roads in Sitka.

Joe served in the Navy during the Vietnam War as a boat captain on PBR 130 from 1967 to 1969. He served with Honor and Distinction. In 2011 he reconnected with most of the members of his boat crew and joined the Game Wardens Association, helping to refurbish the boats they had served on during the war.

During Joe’s years in Ketchikan, his daughter Dawn was born. Joe moved to Sitka where he met Jodi Whitson. They were married and blended their families in 1975 at the Morton Logger’s Jubilee. 

Joe never met a stranger and he was always the fun one in the room. He was a wonderful dancer and he loved to sing, but always added his own words to the songs. Joe loved to travel and brought joy to every journey. Above all, Joe loved his family and friends.

Joe is survived by his wife, Jodi Mettler of Burlington, Wash.; daughters, Brenda Andersen (Jim) of Juneau, Dawn Mettler of Camano Island, Wash., Katie Pickrell (Mike) of Big Lake, Wash.; and son Steven Mettler (Angela Filler) of Bend, Ore.

His granddaughters, Kara White of Cordova and Kayla DePriest (Jesse Vaughn) of Juneau; grandsons James Andersen of Burlington, Tyler Vitalich (Harlee) of Mount Vernon, Wash., Hunter Jones of Bend, Dawson Bellows of Camano Island, Wash.; great-grandsons Gunnar DePriest of Juneau, Keyton Vitalich of Mount Vernon, Wash., and Kasen Vaughn of Juneau; brother Jack Mettler (Pam); mother-in-law Bobbie Whitson; numerous nieces, nephews and cousins; and friends in Washington, Alaska and Arizona, also survive. 

Joe was preceded in death by his parents, Joseph L. Mettler Sr. and Clara (Kepper) Mettler. 

Graveside services will be held at 1 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 19, at Mount Vernon Cemetery, 1200 East Fir Street, Mount Vernon, Wash., under the care of Lemley Chapel.

Immediately following the services, a reception will be held at Hillcrest Park Lodge, 1717 South 13th Street, Mount Vernon.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests contributions be made in Joe’s name to: Patrol Boat River (PBR) Fund Game Wardens, Assoc., PO Box 970, Sumner, WA 98390.

Share your memories of Joe and sign the online guest register at www.lemleychapel.com.

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