Joseph Patrick McNamara

It can be hard to imagine. He’s lost dearly-loved family and friends, he’s been injured, broke, used, and disappointed. He’d tell you how blessed he was for all the good times and cherished memories. He’d point out how damn lucky he was that it wasn’t any worse; what great care he got, and how nicely it’s healing. He’d recall all the times he left the house for a day of road-tripping with little or no plan, $10 and a family of five and come back having had the biggest of adventures. He’d tell you to live and learn, never forget the lesson but move on and don’t dwell on the things that can’t be changed.

Joseph McNamara was born to Bill and Barb (Wheeler) McNamara on April 29, 1950 and raised in Yakima, Washington. His sister Donna was born the following April. Joe attended school at St. Paul’s, Robertson, IKE, and took an automotive class at Davis at the suggestion of a school administrator after Joe claimed he wasn’t having much fun at school. His mother would tell you he was a good kid. Though he also found a bit of wholesome trouble along the way, the kind right at the edge, leaving his parents to deliver consequences while holding back a laugh.

Joe was eleven years old when he got his first job, delivering newspapers. His Mom allowed to him spend some of his earnings but also required him to save a portion. He wasn’t thrilled by the idea. But, one day, with a good little savings, he bought his first Jeep and a brand-new tackle box for his Dad on Father’s Day.

Joe met Michelle VanderLinden, the love of his life, in the summer of 1969 while dragging Yakima Avenue. She was supposed to be bowling with her friend Lynne. They continued to meet under the guise of bowling until one day Joe drove into the yard of her family home. Michelle thought her Dad would kill them both but Joe won over Dick almost immediately! They were married April 3, 1971 during Spring Break of Michelle’s senior year of high school. Michelle's dad thought she would never finish school – she did! Their first daughter, DeAnna, was born the summer of 1972, followed closely by CarriAnn in 1973, and Breezy in 1977. They’ve parented many others along the way. They’ve had several devoted German Shepherds and crazy cats. They’ve raised birds, a pigmy goat, sheep, and lots of pigs over the years. As the years progressed, their family grew and so did the big Sunday night dinners. It began by adding all the leaves into the dining room table. These days it can require the addition of two long folding tables! At times feeding 20 people or more including many grandchildren and great grandchildren. Even the occasional rogue or wayward guest.

When Joe and Michelle met, he was working as a delivery driver for Schultz Furniture. He wasn’t fond of this job and one day, in 1974, his Dad told Joe that if the two of them could work together, there’d be a place for him beside his Dad with McVey Plastering. Well, they could work together and ended up doing so until 1979 when, along with the help of Barb and Michelle, they bought the business and turned it into McNamara Construction, Inc.

Joe worked hard all week and more than a few weekends, though those were usually reserved for family and fun. He was devoted to his business – his creative designs and well-constructed, stunning products and especially his dearly respected and talented coworkers! He liked tidy job-sites and appreciated the connections made with customers and vendors. Together, the McNamara Construction Team built hundreds of pools until Joe retired in 2017 and sold the business.

In all those years, only three jobs! His parents, Bill and Barb, owned the Scorpion dealership in Yakima in the ‘70s. Joe and Michelle spent plenty of time working at the snowmobile shop. Though not officially employed, they received all kinds of gear and got to ride all the new machines and show them off to others out in the mountains. Guess this makes them pre-social-media influencers.

Not only did they start the business in 1979 (it was a big year) Joe and Michelle sold their home in town and moved their young family out to an apple orchard in Gleed. The five of them lived in a small single-wide trailer, with the hitch still attached and surrounded by colorful snapdragons. Over several years, they slowly built their family home. It was a labor of love working alongside their children, parents, and countless friends and family members. The loving hands and skilled labor of so many dear to the McNamaras made the house feel like a home even before moving in to it. The official move was in January 1985. Things at the house have continued to evolve and change since. It was never much of a surprise to find a backhoe, dump truck, or cement truck show up for one reason or another. Ironically, they did not get a swimming pool until 1989. Michelle teased Joe by saying she was glad he wasn’t a plumber or it might have taken that long for indoor plumbing!

Joe was taught young by his parents to have fun and it was a lesson he learned well. He hiked, hunted, fished and worked on Jeeps with his Dad as a boy. He and Michelle carried on the concept and lived life to the fullest. Not only working harder but also playing harder than most people can imagine. They along with their kids, parents, and friends would Jeep, snowmobile, pick mushrooms and huckleberries, dirt bike, and camp. There was the annual Christmas tree hunting trip as well! Wood cutting trips or big work projects in the yard were even made into fun. Seems like even the hardest of jobs, when done well, and with your family and your friends, never really seems like work.

A charismatic and mischievous leader, Joe never struggled to convince others into all kinds of nonsense. Once, on a camping trip, he convinced everyone to try “tree swinging”. Two participants would climb the same good-sized pine tree and throw their weight back and forth until one would fall off and one would remain victoriously up the tree… until the recoil would fling the victor haphazardly out into the forest! It took a few rounds of this to realize, though it was fun, it also hurt pretty bad!

Joe and Michelle were known to be dedicated parents attending every soccer game and band concert, supporting all kinds of endeavors, advising in all kinds of ways, and assisting with every task big or small. They were always there when needed, sometimes before you even realized they were needed. Not just for their girls either, also for the girl’s friends, their own friends, and family members. It was not uncommon to see them helping strangers, making them into friends and having fun along the way.

As the girls grew, Joe and Michelle played more on their own enjoying long motorcycle rides on summer weekends. They went to several Harley Owners Group Rallies and made friends in every little town in Washington as well as a few other states. They loved riding up LoLo Pass on Highway 12, stopping unannounced at the homes of Aunts and Uncles, stopping at Jack's Bar and in Libby, MT for huckleberry flapjacks. They enjoyed going to family reunions whenever possible. Joe enjoyed having his daughters and sons-in-law join in the annual HOG Toy Run each Fall whenever they could. In later years, Joe would load grandkids onto the motorcycle and take them for fun rides and through several Sportsman’s Days parades. He’d entertain the grandkids by riding dirt bikes around the property, teasing them constantly, and even getting a tiny replica Jeep for them to ride around the property.

Once retired, Joe and Michelle bought a Razor and toy-hauling camp trailer. They made a lot of trips to Arizona. Eventually, buying their little home away from home in Mesa, Arizona on a whim. They spent their winter days playing in the desert with their dear friends and hauling their toys out to Wickenburg or Florance to stay all week. They’d return to their little mobile home on busy weekends when the desert would fill up with the non-retired set.

In February of 2022, Joe was diagnosed with AML. They decided to stay in Arizona for treatment. The girls flew down to spend a week supporting their parents in March. Everyone was brought some peace by the competency and nurturing care he received at Banner Hospital. Michelle was a diligent care-giver, taking detailed notes, delivering medications and flushing IV PICC lines. His love and respect for her was always immense and he became overwhelmed with gratitude for the burden she carried during this hard fight. Michelle didn’t see it as a burden – “for better or worse, for richer or poorer, in sickness and in health…” not just simple vows - they lived it in several ways over the years.

During this last year people would ask Joe how he was doing. He’d say, he’s never had a bad day. They might ask about the cancer, the chemotherapy, the pills, the biopsies, the blood anomaly… he’d smile and say some days have been much better than others. He’d tell you about the successes they were having. He’d tell you how educated and hard working the doctors, nurses, assistants, and attendants are and then he’d tell you about their vacations, upcoming plans, and of course if they had a cool car! Joe would tell you who does the best bone marrow biopsy and who claims to and that they’re not the same person! He’d tell you that he hopes they learn something new from his complexities. He’d tell you there are some bad things that can happen in a day but he’s never had an all-bad day.

Some family and friends had been able to make the trip to Arizona to see them which was wonderful. In April, they decided to come home to be with family. “Fantabulous” is the word Joe would use to describe being home. Home to relax in the house built by himself, his friends, and family. To get to see his toys, accomplishments, and projects he was still scheming on finishing up – he gave the family some artistic direction on how to proceed on some – his mind reeling with creative ideas. Joe and Michelle came home to hold and be held by their girls, sons-in-law, grandkids, great grandkids and countless dear family and friends. He got to see a lot of friends and family during the month he was home. He wouldn’t let anyone feel bad for him, He’d remind everyone he’s been too fortunate for anyone to feel bad.

In May Joe discontinued treatment and met with hospice. They commented on his home, his family and how up-beat and positive he was as he joked with them. His last days were spent in his bedroom with his wife, daughters and their families at his side. They were beautiful, sunny spring days. There was music playing the entire time, lots of singing, stories, hugging and tears, lots of care for Dad, lots of love and support for Mom, and for each other. Even his last one was not a bad day – it was truly beautiful.

So many have asked how they can help us, what they can do for us, to let them honor Joe by assisting us – we ask that you do so by honoring his zest for life, his gratitude for others, and his love for adventure – do so by NEVER having a Bad Day!

A celebration of his life is scheduled for July 15, 2023 between 1:00pm-4:00pm at the family home.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.keithandkeith.com for the McNamara family.