Joseph Douglas Dube, Sr.

Joseph Douglas Dube, Sr., age 81 of Sanderson, passed from this life on Monday, September 8, 2025. Joe was born in Altha, Florida on February 15, 1944 to Mr. Joseph A. and Hardie Pumphrey Dube. Joe had a love for fitness that started at a young age when his father purchased him and his brother exercise equipment. Joe would attend Terry Parker High School where he excelled in athletics and would start his competitive weightlifting journey. He became the youngest person in the world to Olympic press 300 pounds at age 16. He would go on to become a multi-time Florida State Champion and eventually set Junior and Senior World Records. In 1967, Joe became a Pan American Champion and would win a bronze medal the following year in the 1968 Mexico City Olympics. In 1969 he won a gold medal and world championship in Warsaw. He was again a member of the 1972 and 1980 American Olympic Weightlifting teams. Thru his athletic accomplishments, Joe was recognized as a guest of President Richard Nixon at the White House and as a guest on The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson. Mr. Dube would say that of all of the achievements and accolades of his life, his greatest two medals were his sons, Joe, Jr. and Jason.

In his free time, Mr. Dube enjoyed riding with the Gold Wing Club of Jacksonville and watching horse racing. He also was an avid New York Yankees fan and a Superman enthusiast. Joe was a skilled artist and some of his pieces were displayed with the Art of The Olympians. He loved spending time with his family and will be remembered for his joking and upbeat personality. 

He was preceded in death by his parents and a brother, Adron Dube.

He is survived by his sons, Joseph (Mary Tyler) Dube, Jr. and Jason Dube both of Sanderson; eight grandchildren, one great-grandchild; brothers, Virgil (Sharon) Dube of Jacksonville, Alfred (JoAnn) Dube of Tifton, and Clifford (Linda) Dube of Daytona; as well as numerous nieces and nephews.

Services to honor Joe’s life will be held Saturday, September 13, 2025 in the chapel of Guerry Forbes Funeral Home at 11:00 AM with his sons, Rev. Joseph Dube, Jr. and Jason Dube officiating. The family will receive friends at the funeral home at 10:00 AM. Interment will follow at Cedar Creek Cemetery.