Joseph Amendt Jr.

Joseph Amendt (Captain Joe), age 89, of Watertown, SD passed away on Wednesday, February 5, 2025 in
Watertown, SD.
A memorial service will be held at 10:00am on Friday, April 25, 2025 at Holy Name Catholic Church in
Watertown, SD. Prior to the memorial service a visitation and prayer session will be offered from 9:00-
10:00am at Holy Name Catholic Church. Interment will be at St. Mary's Cemetery in Watertown at
11:00am.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to Immaculate Conception School in Watertown or the
Glacial Lakes Humane Society and Shelter in Watertown.
Joe was born in Los Angeles, California on February 28, 1935 to Joseph and Alma Amendt. He grew up
in southern California, graduated from Alhambra High School and attended Long Beach State where he
obtained a degree in electrical engineering. He was a member and president of the CA Tau Beta Pi
Engineering Honor Society. Joe was drafted into the Army and was stationed in Germany for 2 years with
the "Big Red 1" first infantry division, and served in the Army Reserve for several years after that. His
first professional engineering position was at the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power.
Joe married Jane Frisone in 1954, they had one daughter, Cynthia, and later divorced. In 1964, he married
Katherine Moore and they had four children, Katherine, Joseph, Michael and Matthew, and later
divorced. He married Shirley Sorenson in 1986, combining their families with Shirley's children,
Catherine and Phillip. They moved to Watertown, SD in 1979 and settled on a property that he loved on
the south side of Lake Pelican - naturally, with its own air strip.
Captain Joe had a lifelong love of aviation that started with an introductory flight at the age of 14 in an
Aeronca L-16. He described it as magical, "not like we were climbing but as if the earth was falling away
below us". Soon after he got a job at the El Monte airport in southern California and began his flight
training. His first solo was in a Piper PA-11 and he received his private pilot certificate at age 16. His
career path was clearly set with this milestone and he was hired by Northwest Orient Airlines in 1966. He
began commercial flying as a 2nd officer on a Boeing 707. During the 1980s his flight proficiency and
passion drove him to new heights as he was type rated as Captain on 5 different aircraft simultaneously, a
distinguished accomplishment. He was Captain on the 747-400 at the culmination of his commercial
aviation career. In 1995 at age 60, he took his mandatory retirement from NWA with over 25,000 hours of
flight time "without scratching a soul or bending any metal". His technical expertise also took him on a
pathway into aviation mechanics where he obtained and held an A & P and Inspection Authorization (IA)
certification. No aircraft was outside of his interest, and he received his helicopter rating in 1977. He
delighted in flying and tinkering with his Piper Apache and his 172 and 150 Cessnas. Outside of aviation,
he also enjoyed traveling, scuba diving, reading and instructing those around him in all areas of
aeronautics, engineering and politics (being a frequent commentator on KWAT's Whats Up show).
Joe was preceded in death by wife Shirley Amendt, mother Alma Amendt, father Joseph Amendt Sr. and
daughter Cynthia Amendt.
Joe is survived by his children, Katherine Amendt (Irwin Hershkovitz) of Minnetonka, MN, Joseph
Amendt (Jennifer) of Plymouth, MN, Michael Amendt (Marie) of Santa Ana CA, Matthew Amendt of
University Place, WA, Catherine Brown (Jack) of Brandon, SD and Phillip Brugger of Watertown, SD, his
grandchildren, Kelsey Hershkovitz, Madison Hershkovitz and Samuel Hershkovitz all of the Twin Cities
and his feisty dog, Ralphie.
Joe was a devout Catholic and enjoyed doing the rosary daily. We will miss seeing him in the front row at
Holy Name Catholic Church.
Psalm 147:11 The Lord takes pleasure in those who fear Him, in those who hope in His mercy.
Wight & Comes Funeral Chapel serving the family ~ www.wightandcomes.com