Joseph John Tighe

Memorial services for SFC (Ret) Joseph J. Tighe will be held at Penwell-Gabel Johnson Chapel, 203 N. Washington Street at 10 a.m., Wednesday, January 20, 2010 with Father Al Brungardt officiating. Visitation will be held from 9:30 a.m. until time of service. Inurnment will take place at Kansas Veterans' Cemetery at 11:30 a.m. with full military honors. Memorial contributions have been designated to St. Xavier Catholic Church, P.O. Box 399 and/or Friends of Animals, P.O. Box 580 both in Junction City, KS 66441.

Joseph John Tighe, 87, died January 12, 2010, at his home in Junction City, Kansas. He was born February 16, 1922 in San Antonio, Texas, the son of John Bernard and Guadalupe (Guillen) Tighe.

He was united in marriage to Erika J. Wilde on May 16, 1950, at St. Ursula Kirche in Heidelberg, Germany.

Joseph served in the United States Army as a medic and later as a chef during World War II, the Korean War and the Vietnam War. He received an honorable discharge after 23 years of service. Then he worked as a meat cutter at the Fort Riley Commissary, as well as, catering private parties and events at the Junction City Country Club.

He was a member of St. Xavier's Catholic Church, the Fraternal Order of Eagles Aerie 830 and was an Honorary Knight of Columbus. He enjoyed cooking and was known for the many fundraising benefit meals he prepared for St. Xavier's.

Joe and Erika moved to Las Vegas for fifteen years before returning to Junction City in 2006. He enjoyed taking his dogs for walks at Milford Lake and more recently at South Park. He loved vacationing with family especially his grandchildren taking them on cruises, skiing trips and theme parks.

Joe had a friendly smile and kind words for everyone he met. He was a master storyteller of his memories of the past. He loved golf with his son and sons-in-law and joined them in hunting adventures during deer season.

He was preceded in death by his parents, a brother Phillip and a sister Genevieve Scanlon.

Survivors include his wife Erika; two sisters, Anna Ramones and niece Bertha of San Antonio, TX, and Theresa Marcella and niece Patricia Birch of Mission Hills, CA; two daughters, Angie Greenwood and husband Steve Roesler, and Sylvia Wolf and husband Kelly, both of Junction City; one son, Thomas Tighe and wife Danelle of Midland, MI; five grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.