Joseph John Nadeker

1920 - 2013

Joseph, a longtime resident of Redding, passed away Wednesday, November 20, 2013 at his home in Shasta Lake at the age of 93. Joseph was born July 31, 1920 in Horka, Czechoslovakia, where he grew up. He attended Charles University in Prague, studying Business until the German occupation of his country closed the University. He met his wife, Klara, in Frankfurt Germany after fleeing from the Russian occupation of post war Czechoslovakia. He and his wife immigrated to the United States from Germany in 1950 traveling first to New York and then on to Newburg, Oregon. After a short stay in Oregon he moved to Orick, California and became part of the growing timber industry working for Arcata Redwood.

In 1961, He moved his family to Redding where he transitioned out of the logging industry and obtained a General Contractors License and began Joseph Nadeker Construction. Since 1964 Joe, as he was known by his friends and associates, owned and operated an excavation and construction business. He was involved in many residential developments and some commercial endeavors throughout the Redding area. One of the most notable for which he received city recognition was the Forest Homes Subdivision off of Shasta View. He and partner, Tom Taylor, created N & T Digmore, Inc. of Redding. N & T continued his involvement with both residential and commercial development. He eventually sold his share to Taylor and began working in residential land development. His partnership JAD Associates and his Corporation, Cornerstone Development Group, constructed the Windsor Estates subdivision in Shasta Lake, as well as the Amber Ridge and China Grove subdivisions in Happy Valley.

Joe was an avid fisherman, hunter, and international dog trial judge. He did much to further the improvement of quality hunting dogs in the United States. He assisted in the importing of new bloodlines to improve the Wirehaired Pointing Griffons in America and judged many field trials to help improve the hunting breeds. He served, as well, on several breeding committees for many years. His knowledge of hunting dogs, training and field behavior were widely regarded. Larry Mueller, Outdoor Life magazine's hunting editor, documented Joe's knowledge on hunting dogs in a featured article after spending a day with him hunting in the fields north of Sacramento.

Joe was also a member of Grace Baptist Church for 44 years. He thanked God daily for guiding and providing for his family. His great faith was exemplified in both his personal and professional life. He placed his family ahead of himself always and conducted business with honesty, sincerity and fairness. Joe was preceded in death by his son, Joseph Paul Nadeker in 1979. Survivors include his wife Klara of 64 years, his three daughters Birdie Peterson, Linda Smith and Annie Lowe, his son Michael, grandchildren Leslie Adams, Danielle Powell and Matthew Nadeker, sons-in-law Ron Peterson, Dave Smith and Tom Lowe, daughter-in-law Crystal Nadeker, grandson-in-law Jhon Powell as well as numerous nieces, nephews and cousins living in the Czech Republic.A memorial service will be held on Saturday, December 7, 2013 at 1:00 pm at Grace Baptist Church, 3782 Churn Creek Road, Redding, California. Donations can be made to Mercy Hospice, 1544 Market Street, Redding, California 96001-1023.