Joe “Papa Joe” Tatum

After a brief illness, Wasilla resident Joe Tatum, 58, died March 16, 2011, at his home, which was filled with love.

A memorial service is at 3 p.m., March 22 at Valley Funeral Home in Wasilla. Joe’s ashes will be scattered at his favorite fishing lakes throughout Alaska.

Joe was born April 1, 1952, in Albuquerque, N.M., and raised in Anchorage by his parents, Frank and Rose Tatum. He attended and graduated from East Anchorage High School.

During his high school years, Joe became an award-winning artist and continued to paint throughout his life. Joe joined the U.S. Air Force after high school and was stationed in Cheyenne, Wyo., where he met his lifelong love.

In 1974, Joe moved to Fairbanks with the U.S. Air Force and was stationed at Fort Wainwright. After his years in service to country, he worked as a civil service HVAC mechanic for the Department of Defense.

In 1993, Joe moved from Fairbanks to Wasilla and continued his work as a civil service employee until his retirement in 2003.

Joe enjoyed hunting, fishing, camping, cooking and family time throughout his life, especially in retirement. He loved spending quality time with his grandchildren, taking them fishing on many area lakes throughout the Valley and beyond.

Joe is survived by his father, Frank Tatum; his wife and lifelong love, Bertha; sons, Brandon, Jason and Sean; brothers, Jack and Greg Tatum; sisters, June Tatum, Stephanie Farrelly and Cheryl Weddel; his grandchildren, Ashton, Ethan, Trinity, Delany and Amiyah; and numerous nieces and nephews.

His mother, Rose Tatum, and nephew, Keith Tatum Reed, preceded Joe in death.

“Joe was a wonderful husband, father, son, brother and grandfather,” the family wrote. “He will be greatly missed. As a family, we know that there are many lessons in his life and each one of us looks to heaven knowing he is waiting for us.”

In lieu of flowers, the family asks donations be made to Special Olympics and the Make-A-Wish Foundation.

The family was cared for by Valley Funeral Home and Crematory of Wasilla.