Joseph M. Gehlen

Mass of Christian Burial for Joseph M. “Joe” Gehlen will be celebrated at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday, December 28, 2024 at St. Andrew’s Catholic Church in Ellensburg with burial and military honors to follow at Holy Cross Cemetery. The Rosary will be prayed at 7:00 p.m. Friday evening, December 27, at Johnston & Williams Funeral Home. Mr. Gehlen, a lifetime resident of Ellensburg, passed away on Thursday, December 12, 2024 at the KVH Hospital.

Joe was born on March 15, 1947 in Ellensburg to Lawrence James & Elmadine Katherine (Werlich) Gehlen. He grew up in Ellensburg in the family home on the corner of Third and Walnut. He attended the Lourdes Academy in Ellensburg before transferring to St. Martin’s Boarding School in Lacey where he graduated high school in 1965. During his school years, Joe played on the high school golf team and was also a championship swimmer.

Following graduation, Joe attended Wenatchee Valley Community College, including one quarter studying abroad in Mexico, with his lifelong friend Larry Nickel. There have been questions over the years about how much studying was actually done in Mexico, but that experience resulted in Joe’s lifelong disdain for tequila.

In November of 1967, Joe enlisted in the United States Army. After basic training, he was sent to fight in Vietnam where he spent one year, seven months and two days “in-country” before returning stateside to finish his term of service. As a result of his combat service in Vietnam, Joe was awarded a Bronze Star Medal, the fourth-highest individual award in the US military given for specific acts of heroism or meritorious service above and beyond normal duties. Like many Vietnam Veterans, Joe did not talk openly about his time in Vietnam, so the details surrounding his actions to earn that distinction stayed with him and a very select group of his friends to the very end of his life. 

Following his honorable discharge from the Army in November 1970, Joe returned to Ellensburg where he attended Central Washington University and earned his bachelors degree in Business Management. In 1971, while attending CWU, Joe was introduced to Rhonda Busch through mutual friends. They hit it off and, in November of 1973, Joe proposed to Rhonda with one condition – he had always told himself that he wouldn’t get married until he was 27, so they couldn’t have their wedding until Saturday, March 16, 1974, the day after his 27th birthday.

Many people in town will remember Joe as the grumpy (at least until he got to know you) local plumber from Woods Ace Hardware. He began working for Woods in the mid 1970’s and spent his career being the “go-to guy” for plumbing jobs around the county. He loved what he did and was highly regarded by his peers for his knowledge of all things plumbing related. Although he retired (a term used very loosely in this context) in 2015, you could often find Joe helping his friends as he “supervised” the plumbing work they were doing.

Joe enjoyed many hours on the golf course with his 9 handicap and friends Gerry, Gary W., Dickie, Norm, Gary R., Pork-Chop, Talerico and Forie, just to name a few. He also enjoyed snowmobiling, boating, was a talented waterskier and was also a longtime member of both the Ellensburg Elk’s Lodge and the American Legion. He enjoyed spending time in his shop, tinkering on whatever struck his fancy that day. Every day ended with “happy hour” sipping bourbon and swapping stories with his friends. 

Any story of Joe’s life would also be incomplete without mentioning his daily routine of driving around town, stopping and visiting with his many friends and getting caught up on the latest happenings. You’d always know how long the visit was going to be based on whether or not Joe left his pickup running or shut it off when he stopped to visit you.

Joe, we will always remember your easy going ways, generous heart, sense of humor, friendly smile and trademark laugh. You have fought the good fight and now it is time to rest.

Joe is survived by his wife, Rhonda Busch-Gehlen; sister Molly Baker; sister-in-law Gail (Keith) Jacobson; brother-in-laws Walter (Jim Goeben) Busch and Bruce Skibeness; his son “Little Joe” (Jackie) Allemand; special niece Tanya Van wagoner; grandkids Robbi & Scott Goninan as well as a large extended family and many friends. He will also be missed terribly by his beloved kitties - Gertrude and Rusty. He was preceded in death by his parents; his step-mother Beth Sorenson Gehlen; an infant brother Jimmy; his sister Jean Skibeness; his sister and brother-in-law, Patricia and Carl Miller; brother-in-law Richard “Dick” Baker; and Rhonda's parents Hank and Ella Busch, Bob and Sharon Van wagoner, and Mary Couchman.

Memorial contributions in Joe’s honor are suggested to the Kittitas County Veterans Coalition, 507 N Nanum St Ste 117 or to the Kittitas County Friends of Animals (KCFOA), PO Box 1239, both in Ellensburg, WA 98926.

Arrangements have been entrusted to Johnston & Williams of Ellensburg. Online condolences may be left for the family at www.johnston-williams.com