Joseph M. "Joe" Wyffels

Joe was born in Forest Grove, OR on November 15, 1945; he passed away July 21, 2025 in Seattle, WA; he was the third child born to Helen and Emil Wyffels of Yamhill, OR.  He attended St James Catholic grade school in McMinnville, OR.  His high school years were spent at Yamhill-Carlton Union High School.  He participated in basketball, baseball and FFA activities.  Upon graduating from high school, he joined the Army National Guard, rising to the level of a Sargent E-5.  He attended Oregon State University majoring in Ag Economics.  After college graduation, he worked for Chevron Chemical Co. selling fertilizer throughout Western Washington, Kittitas County and lower British Columbia.  Later spent two years in Syracuse and upstate New York selling chemicals for Chevron Chemical Co.  He received an offer to move to Mount Vernon, WA working for Bellingham Frozen Foods as a field man.  He contracted Pea and Sweet Corn crops in Whatcom County.  While helping out in Skagit County as well.  He contracted organic green beans in Whatcom County for Grandview Foods in Grandview, WA.  He also contracted sweet corn in Grant County.  Upon the cannery closing, he acted as a private consultant for several years.   He enjoyed all sports, golfing, bowling and traveling the rural area of Washington.  He was a member of the Mount Vernon Moose Club, Mount Vernon ELKS Lodge and the Burlington Eagles Aerie.  Joe never married.  He is survived by five wonderful sisters and two brothers: Julie (Stu) Kollas of Milwaukee, OR, Marjorie (Robin) Hesley of Fresno, CA, Jan Williams of Yuma, AZ, Terry Wyffels of Yamhill, OR, Gloria Wyffels (Paul McKenny) of Beaverton, OR, Karen (Ken) Miller of Mesa, AZ and Mike (Bev) Wyffels of Enterprise, OR; step-mother: Dolores Wyffels of McMinnville, OR.  Special longtime friend and close companion, Susan Duffy of Mount Vernon, WA and numerous nieces and nephews.  He was preceded in death by his parents, Helen and Emil and a brother-in-law Fred Williams.  A celebration of Joe's life will be held Thursday, August 7, 2025, 3:00 PM at Hawthorne Funeral Home.  A private family burial will take place in McMinnville, OR.  In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made in Joe's name to the Humane Society of Skagit Valley, 18841 Kelleher Rd. Burlington, WA 98233.