Claude “Joe” Eberle, 70, of Happy Valley, OR passed away on April 1, 2020, after a long battle with cancer. He was at home and surrounded by family at the time of his passing. The ninth of ten children, Joe was born to parents Matt and Helen Eberle in Strasburg, North Dakota on March 25, 1950. Growing up, he worked many days of his childhood on the family’s chicken farm. When he left home, he swore he would never have anything to do with chicken farming again—a promise he would eventually break.
After high school, Joe did his first two years of college at Lane Community, then served in the Navy from 1971 until 1973 which included deployment to the Philippines. Following his military service, Joe went on to finish college at the University of Oregon, graduating with a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration in 1975, but was most proud of qualifying as a Certified Public Accountant in 1982.
His college years inspired his love of college football, and especially his beloved Oregon Ducks. For many years to come, one of Joe’s passions was attending Duck football games in the Fall and tailgating with dear friends at Autzen Stadium.
After starting a career as a bank examiner, Joe found his way back to his chicken farming roots when he became the controller for Willamette Egg, Oregon’s largest commercial egg farm. He stayed with Willamette Egg for 30 years, retiring in 2013.
He married Kathleen Lansing, the love of his life, when he was 46 and they went on to have many adventures together, from Paradise Lodge on Oregon’s Rogue River to The Cinque Terre in Italy, to a riverboat cruise down the Danube.
Joe demonstrated remarkable courage in his fight against cancer, inspiring everyone he knew. He lived with cancer for 10 years but never complained. Instead, he took each moment as a gift, finding abundant joy in the small things people often take for granted such as reading a good book, feeding and watching the birds from his chair, taking care of his roses, playing with the children of his nieces and nephews, or having his friends and family over for Duck games. Joe was incredibly generous and had such a sweet spirit. We will miss him more than words can express.
Claude “Joe” Eberle is survived by his wife Kathleen Lansing; sisters Lil, Anna and Eva; and brothers Richard, Dave, Roy and Dan (two other brothers, Harry and Pete, passed away previously). Joe is also survived by many nieces and nephews who he loved dearly.
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