Joseph Fletcher

Big-hearted, laughing eyes, impish smile—Joseph Fletcher, 84, was, and still is, an enormous presence in the lives of all those fortunate enough to know him. The husband of Kathy Fletcher, wife and heart-companion of 63 years, father to Dr. Garrett Fletcher (deceased), Greg Fletcher, Mindy Fletcher-Sistar, grandfather to Isabella Fletcher, Connor Sistar and Cameron Sistar. father-figure to daughter-in-law Iris Fletcher and hanai daughter Monique Rietcheck, Joe was a dedicated family man, a loyal and generous friend and a good neighbor.

Most people on Maui knew Joe a one of the island’s foremost plein air painters. A professional artist for over 50 years, it was a rare day (or night) that didn’t find Joe in his studio in Kula, paintbrush in hand. A familiar sight along roadsides and beaches, in towns and on hilltops, Joe could be found at his easel pretty much anywhere, capturing the alluring beauty and vibrancy of Maui, along with the island’s history in its vintage buildings and the more than occasional old rusty truck. Someone once asked him if he’d ever retire and Joe just laughed. “Retire?” he said. “Isn’t that when you bring a chair along when you go out painting?”

Joe’s studio was as open as his heart, welcoming visitors from all over the world for decades, enchanting them with his stories and his incredible ability to capture life on canvas and make it shine. Some of his paintings remain on view at Viewpoints Gallery in Makawao, Village Gallery in Lahaina, Maui Hands in Paia, and Hana Coast Gallery in Hana. Joe’s many students from over the years continue to blossom in their art, aided by his encouraging words and deft pointers. He leaves behind a stunning legacy in his thousands of paintings, in his life stories, and in the love and beauty he continually demonstrated and thus evoked in the hearts of others.

Celebration of Life to be held at Waipuna Chapel, Kula, February 24, 2023, at 11:00 a.m.Internment at Makawao Veterans Cemetary, Makawao at 1 p.m.Reception to follow at 54 Kaui Place, Kula, at 2:30