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On Friday, September 23, 2022, Joe Dobbels, husband of 63 years to Norma Dobbels and father to three sons, passed from this life and entered into glory with his Savior, Jesus Christ. Joe was 81 years old when he passed. Joe was born and grew up in Indiana and moved with his family to central Oregon at the age of 12. He attended school in Madras and graduated High School in Bend, Oregon. He enlisted in the Navy after graduating high school and subsequently married Norma, his high school sweetheart, after completing Navy bootcamp. Joe had an adventurous 20-year Navy career as a photographer. During his Navy career, he became a diver as well as an underwater motion picture photographer. He was a photographer for several historic occasions, to include the Cuban Missile Crisis, Apollo splash landings in the Pacific, three tours in Vietnam as a combat photographer, and two tours to Antarctica. While serving in the Navy, he and Norma raised three sons, Joe Jr., Jerry, and Jean. After his Navy career, Joe had several other occupations, to include being a missionary in Somalia, a bus driver for the city of Portland, Oregon, and a video producer for Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office. Joe was a sincere Christian. He loved the church and its people and continually served his church in various roles at various locations. He helped plant a church in Camarillo, CA in the 1970’s and served there as an elder for several years. When he and Norma relocated to Sun City West, AZ in 2008, he served as an elder with New Hope Fellowship Church. He also served as the audiovisual director for the church. Besides his love for his Savior and church, Joe was gifted at repairing and restoring cars, house renovations, and most anything involving working with his hands. He was very generous with his time, resources, and money and constantly used his skills to help people who were in need. He very much loved music and was a self-taught harmonica and ukulele player. Those close to him knew him as a man of genuine conviction but with a generous spirit and unique sense of humor. Joe was preceded in death by his father, Ed and his mother, Dora. He is survived by his wife Norma, his three sons, Joe Jr., Jerry, and Jean. Online condolences can be made at www.slaymemorialfuneralhome.com. Arrangements are currently pending and are under the direction of Brad Shotts and Slay Memorial Funeral Center.

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Joseph Dobbels Sr.

June 3, 1941 - September 23, 2022