Joseph Waldo Dick

January 26th, 1936 - November 15th, 2020

Joseph's Memory Wall

We encourage you to share your most beloved memories of Joseph here, so that the family and other loved ones can always see it. Share your favorite stories or comment on those shared by others.

Dear Joan and family, We were very saddened to hear of Mr. Dick’s passing. Brian and I both had the privilege of having Mr. Dick as a teacher. A fond memory I have was the first day of geometry class where he told his famous joke about what did the acorn say? And the punchline being, “Gee, I’m a tree,” and the most entertaining part was how much he enjoyed telling the joke and laughing as he delivered the punchline! We also had chemistry, and Brian went on to take advanced math (I was not leaning in that direction). I remember envying the students in that class because they actually had a full-on Thanksgiving dinner in class! How proud his family must be to have had such a wonderful, caring husband and father in their lives. I will always just smile when I think of Mr. Dick and remember him, and that is a wonderful legacy that all of us would like to have. Again, our condolences. Kate and Brian Marks

Kathleen Marks

November 19th, 2020 at 7:51pm

I remember living in Lawrence, and the many family get togethers we had with Joe and family. We would get there and he would be coming in from 1 of the orchards, then sit and visit with us. He reminded me of a real life John Walton from the Waltons, honest, loving, family man, and ever so hard working. His parents were the same, very nice people. RIP Joe, and enjoy some Gleasonse with Mom, Gramma, and Aunt Dene up there.

rICHARD HILL

November 18th, 2020 at 5:37pm

So sorry for the loss of Uncle Joe. We all lost a great man who had a positive impact shaping countless numbers of young people. Always a smile and sense of humor even when things were not going well. He had a way to coach/teach you, even if you didn’t know that he was doing it. For the many of us that got to spend time receiving that subtle advice and life lessons, we are all better for it. Just imagine the number of lives he has influenced and made better over the many years of teaching and just being who he was if you were lucky enough to know him. I was very fortunate to have had the opportunity to spend four summers working and staying on the farm with Aunt Joan, Uncle Joe, my cousins, and the entire Dick family. I owe a great deal of who I am to those subtle life lessons that Uncle Joe had a knack to share even in a casual conversation. Sending all my love and prayers, Rich Hill Jr.

Richard Hill Jr

November 17th, 2020 at 7:36pm

Joe Dick Sr. Remembrances; Early on, I remember Joe as my sister’s husband. He seemed kind, alert, knowledgeable and attentive to my sister’s needs as well as his children’s. These are my earliest memories as I was very young at the time. Still, I respected Joe then and later even more and what he stood for-more on that later. I had the opportunity to spend some summers with Joan, Joe and my nephews and nieces on “the farm”. Joe’s parents Waldo and Helen, made me feel like I was one of the family and I will never forget their kindness and the work ethic they helped instill in me that is with me today. Though some days on the farm seemed long and hard and I may have gone to bed early, not Joe. He seemed to me to be the 1st, energizer bunny! In my mind, Joe stood for all the good things this world has to offer; kindness, work ethic, respect for others, the values of family and friendship, the importance of learning (even if it is on a hike in the woods and holding a branch up for the person behind you-thanks Joe!), and most of all, most of all – the LOVE this man had in his heart for all. We will miss you Joe. You will be a hard act to follow. Thank You for inspiring all who have known you and enjoy your new wings, you’ve earned them! Love, your brother in law Mike Hill