June 28, 2016

Joseph Stashuk

Joseph Manuel Stashuk, 89, of Grassy Butte and Watford City, N.D., went to be with the Lord, with his daughters by his side, Thursday, May 12, 2016, in Gilbert, Ariz.
Joseph was born to John and Zena Stashuk on Nov. 28, 1926, in Grassy Butte, Marquis Township, McKenzie County, N.D. He was the second born of 12 children.
After Joe's father passed in 1934, the family moved to Watford City where he grew up and went to Watford City High School. He played guard on the Watford City Wolves basketball team and halfback on the Watford City Wolves football team 1942-1945.
In 1945, just after his 18th birthday, Joseph registered for the draft at the selected service office in Watford City. He traveled by train  from Williston, N.D. to Fort Snelling, Minnesota where he was officially sworn into military service June 14, 1945.
He was listed as Infantry Recruit after completion of his medical training and was issued new orders to be shipped to Germany the winter of 1945.
Joe's orders of shipment were to the Port of Embarkation the European Theater at Boston, Massachusetts, He boarded the USS Exchequer and shipped to Le Havre, France on January 2,1946.
After disembarking, his orders were to continue on to Brussels, Belgium then to 280 station hospital at Marbury, Germany.
After getting settled and being assigned duties he made it a point to visit as many places as possible. He visited Italy. He was able to spend one day at the Nuremburg trials. There he was able to see Herman Goering. Joe enjoyed an eight day tour of Switzerland were he took numerous pictures of towns, bridges and monuments.
Tech/5 Joseph M. Stashuk was discharged from the army Dec. 26, 1946, returning to Watford City N.D.
Joe found employment with the Great Northern Railroad as a gandy dancer [laborer], he maintained the rails from Watford City to Alexander, on to Sidney, Montana.
In 1948, Joe worked with W.H. Noel Company as a grease monkey and excavating construction on Highway 10 in Valley City, N.D.
In the Winter of 1948, Joe was employed by Lyle and Green at Garrison Dam as an equipment operator.
In 1949, Joe found employment and housing at a camp on the Little Missouri River cutting cedar for the use of the Lost Bridge.
In 1951, Joe became a member of the Hoisting and Portable Engineers, local no. 701 of the International Union of Operating Engineers.
He was employed by Peter Kiewet Sons Inc. for 14 years as a project foreman and left as a Superintendent. He also worked on road, railroad, airport runway, freeway and interstate highway construction. He worked on the Sanish, N.D. road construction, and Olney, Montana road construction, the Minot, N.D. missile silo construction at the air base, Glasgow, Montana removing asphalt and installing concrete runways, Gold Beach, Oregon 101 freeway construction, Pasco, Washington, rail bed foundation of earth and rock for railroad ties and rails, Billings, Montana airport runway, Missoula, Montana 20 miles of freeway construction, Sun Dance, Wyoming highway construction, Medora, N.D. and 12 miles of Interstate 94 east to Medora.
Joe was a businessman in Watford City from July 1,1965 for many years. In 1972, he rented the Husky Service Station for 3 years on a corner of Main Street and operated Joe's Greasy Grill known for the best hamburgers in town. He also bought and sold livestock for three years.
He enjoyed playing on the men's softball  and men's bowling leagues besides golfing.
In 1983, Joe moved his family to Arizona to become a snow bird and sold at the Apache Junction swap meets for over 25 years. He loved to socialize, wheel'n deal, golf, and watch the professional athletes practice at the stadiums.
In 1984, Joseph Stashuk, one of Watford's top golfers, made a hole in one on a Sunday afternoon, a 270 yard drive on hole #5 using his #2 wood.
In 1990, Joe was an equipment operator at Kehoe Pipeline and Construction. In 1991 Joe worked at the Watford City golf course from grounds keeper to cooking Saturday breakfasts. Joe also cooked Mother's Day dinners for Assembly of God Church for many years. He would set flowers out for the vets grave sites on Memorial and Veterans Days.
Joseph M Stashuk married Sharon K. Quale on Dec. 8, 1968; they raised three children, Michael, Teresa (Fear) and Stephani. He had five grandchildren, Corye, Devin, Amanda, Zachary, and Brandon; and 4 great-grandchildren, Aiden, Taylee K, Monroe and Maverick Fear. He lived the last years of his life in Mesa and Gilbert, Arizona close to his children.
A Memorial Service will be held at the Assembly of God Church in Watford City, N.D. at 2 p.m. on Saturday July 2, 2016.
 

WATFORD CITY WEATHER