Joseph Patrick Akagi JR

1949 - 2012

Joseph Patrick Akagi, Jr. passed away peacefully at the Seattle VA Hospital on March 16, 2012 after a long struggle with
cancer. Joe was comforted in his last days by his siblings and other family members.

Joseph was born on March 15, 1949 in Juneau, Alaska, to Joseph (Sr.) and Eunice Akagi. The family moved to Seattle in 1951 and traveled back and forth between Alaska and Seattle due to his father's work as a port engineer for Hood Bay Cannery.

Joe attended school in Seattle at Adams Elementary (Ballard) where he became an active cub scout. In the years following his family's return to Alaska in 1959, Joe entered the Juneau school system. He was a trumpet player in the school band. Moving once again to Seattle in 1963, Joe continued playing the trumpet throughout his years as a high school student.

In 1967, following his graduation from Ballard High School, Joe attended the Devry Institute of Technology in Chicago with his lifelong friend Robert Ridley. Following the completion of his technical program in 1969, Joe enlisted in the U.S. Army where he became a member of the Army Security Agency. Joe was a proud Viet Nam Veteran who served in Thailand taking part in the battles around Udorn in 1971-1972.

Following his honorable discharge from the Army, Joe returned to Seattle and then Alaska where he worked on the Trans-Alaska Pipeline, and later as a power plant mechanic in Angoon, Alaska.

After his work in Alaska, Joe returned to Seattle to attend the University of Washington where he took additional course work in electrical engineering and physics.

Joe married Martha Kookesh of Angoon, Alaska, in 1978 and established a home in Bothell, Washington. They have two boys, Joseph Akagi III and Gordon K. Akagi.

For nearly 30 years Joe worked as a hardware and software engineer for Intermec Inc. in Lynnwood, Washington.

Joe's last wish was to be buried in Juneau in the Veterans Section of Alaskan Memorial Park close to his father, Joseph Akagi Sr., an Army WWII veteran, who passed in 1997. Joe is survived by his mother Eunice W. Akagi, siblings Randy Wanamaker (Karen),
Connie Lundy (Claude), Peggy Execdine (Joe), Pamela Brooks (Mike), Sam Akagi (Terry) and Stuart Akagi (Carrie); his sons Joseph III and Gordon; his aunt Katherine Goade and uncle Sam Wanamaker; as well as numerous cousins, nieces and nephews of whom he was very fond.

He will be buried in mid-May 2012, at Alaskan Memorial Park with an Army Honor Guard to present Joe with his last salute. Friends and family are invited to his simple graveside service once the date can be set. Joe especially wanted Veterans to attend.
He said they will understand.

People wishing more information may contact Randy Wanamaker at 907 723 2228 or by mail at Randy Wanamaker 3814 Killewich Drive Juneau, Alaska 99801.