Joseph Edward McQuade, born in Litchville, North Dakota, on November 17, 1919, as the second child to Martin L. McQuade and Olga A. (Nelson) McQuade, passed away on August 2, 2006, at the age of 86.
There were 9 McQuade children in all. Marvin was first (now deceased), Joe, John (also deceased), Melford, Pete, Norma, Pat and Patsy (twins) and Jeannie. Joe is survived by the last 6 of his sibling, his 5 children, Gail, Maureen, Susan, Richard and Ronnie, his many grandchildren, great-grandchildren and great-great-grandchildren, a host of nieces and nephews and friends.
Joe moved to Seattle in Sept. 1941, arriving in their 32 Chevrolet sedan with his parents, all nine children and “Lassie” the Scotty, belonging to Joe. (He loved his animals and was never without one.)
Joe worked at Boeing for a long time, then enlisted in the US Navy as a Naval ‘CB’ (construction builder) and traveled to many places from Oxnard, CA to the Philippines and back during his military tenure. Joe was honorably discharged and moved back to Seattle with his family.
Joe McQuade then became a Teamster and drove truck for a living from then on, beginning as a driver for Puget Sound Transfer and from there, moved on to driving for Sears and Roebuck until his retirement. He then opened a Fruit and Produce stand, right over in White Center on Delridge, near Roxbury St., right across the street from White Center Tool Rentals, called the “Harvest Produce’ Stand. That little venture flourished and was fun for him and his grown children.
Joe finally sold the produce stand and decided to move to Belfair, WA with his buddy, Rowdy the Scotty. He moved into his mobile home in Belfair in 1982, where he remained until his death on August 2, 2006.
Your family loved you dearly Joe and here’s hoping you found Johnny, Marvin, Grandma and Grandpa and you’re sitting around eatin’ grandma’s chocolate chip cookies and having a good laugh while watching a fame of golf somewhere.
Published in the LItchville Bulletin, LItchville, North Dakota, August 9, 2006.