Share Joe Repking's obituary with others.
Invite friends and family to read the obituary and add memories.
Stay updated
We'll notify you when service details or new memories are added.
You're now following this obituary
We'll email you when there are updates.
Please select what you would like included for printing:
IN LOVING MEMORY OF Joe Repking
Joe
Repking
March 23, 1954 – February 2, 2012
Joe Repking's Obituary
Joe Repking 57, known in Alaska as 'Joe the Firewood Guy' and in his Talkeetna River Subdivision neighborhood as "Candy Bar Joe", died of natural causes at home in Talkeetna, Alaska on February 2, 2012.
A memorial service will be held at 2:30 p.m., Saturday, March 10, 2012 at Bauer Funeral Home in Effingham with visitation beginning at 1:00 p.m. at the funeral home. A memorial service is also being held in Talkeetna, AK on this day in Joe's honor. Joe was cremated in Alaska.
Joe was the son of Lawrence and Kathleen Repking of Effingham, brother of Michael of Dubai, UAE and Chuck Repking of El Centro, California, and Uncle to Ken 'Haj' Repking of Bishop, IL. He graduated from St. Anthony High School in 1972 and then attended two years of college at Southern Illinois University. He then moved back to Effingham, Illinois his hometown where he worked as a warehouse controller for Habbe Wholesale.
A dog lover and gardener, Joe moved from Effingham to the Carolinas, bought a small farm, and lived there briefly before moving back to his hometown. Feeling restless in Illinois and wanting to indulge in his passion for dogs, Joe soon moved again—this time to Alaska where he raised huskies.
Once Joe hit the Talkeetna area he could be found mushing his dog team up the frozen rivers, helping one and all with log cabin building and maintenance, and finally becoming the one and only true wood-chopper in the upper Susitna Valley. Every day this community saw Joe in his truck, heading south in the morning, chain saws, splitting mauls and shovels in the back of his ¾ ton stake-bed. He'd return in the evening, the back of the truck overflowing a cord-and-a-half of firewood (which he sold as a cord, being that kind of guy).
Joe lived in Talkeetna for over 20 years. He will never be replaced and the village will be at a loss for his passing. Everyone who knew him and had dealings with him will remain enriched for having had the pleasure of his presence in their lives. So here's to Candy Bar Joe, may he forever rest his gnarled and oaken hands.
A memorial service will be held at 2:30 p.m., Saturday, March 10, 2012 at Bauer Funeral Home in Effingham with visitation beginning at 1:00 p.m. at the funeral home. A memorial service is also being held in Talkeetna, AK on this day in Joe's honor. Joe was cremated in Alaska.
Joe was the son of Lawrence and Kathleen Repking of Effingham, brother of Michael of Dubai, UAE and Chuck Repking of El Centro, California, and Uncle to Ken 'Haj' Repking of Bishop, IL. He graduated from St. Anthony High School in 1972 and then attended two years of college at Southern Illinois University. He then moved back to Effingham, Illinois his hometown where he worked as a warehouse controller for Habbe Wholesale.
A dog lover and gardener, Joe moved from Effingham to the Carolinas, bought a small farm, and lived there briefly before moving back to his hometown. Feeling restless in Illinois and wanting to indulge in his passion for dogs, Joe soon moved again—this time to Alaska where he raised huskies.
Once Joe hit the Talkeetna area he could be found mushing his dog team up the frozen rivers, helping one and all with log cabin building and maintenance, and finally becoming the one and only true wood-chopper in the upper Susitna Valley. Every day this community saw Joe in his truck, heading south in the morning, chain saws, splitting mauls and shovels in the back of his ¾ ton stake-bed. He'd return in the evening, the back of the truck overflowing a cord-and-a-half of firewood (which he sold as a cord, being that kind of guy).
Joe lived in Talkeetna for over 20 years. He will never be replaced and the village will be at a loss for his passing. Everyone who knew him and had dealings with him will remain enriched for having had the pleasure of his presence in their lives. So here's to Candy Bar Joe, may he forever rest his gnarled and oaken hands.
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Joe Repking, please visit our flower store.
Joe Repking's Guestbook
Visits: 0
This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the
Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
Service map data © OpenStreetMap contributors