The passing of Redneck Joe

[Nomad]

My good friend and hunting partner died in his sleep last night . No health issues , non smoker light drinker , not even 60 yet . We weren’t just friends our families camped together,went on vacations together,our daughters were best friends  of the 150 or so at my retirement party Joe and his wife were of the handful from outside work .

He grew up in the North Country, “ where if we didn’t grow it or kill it we didn’t eat it “ !

A successful business owner and  the biggest family man you’ll ever know . 
 
Total shock right now , “ what do you mean Joe died ,? Joe who ? I couldn’t believe it ! 
 

The pics, well that year all my deer disappeared, very few seen in all of bow , this buck was the only good one I’ve seen , and  handful of times in bow . So a few days into gun Joe hunts with me and kills it 20 minutes after light . I have to say I had mixed feelings , he was super happy but I was a bit are you kidding me ?  This puts hunting all in perspective.

[GreeneHunter]

Condolences .... Nice to know he enjoyed a good life in the North Country - God's Country !

[Robhuntandfish]

Sorry to hear this.  Condolences, those memories will always be there though. That's tough to hear I am sure. 

[mowin]

Sorry to hear about Joe.  Condolences to all his family and friends. 

[Bionic]

I’m sorry to hear of this too, condolences to his family/friends.  

[JohnPlav]

Sorry to hear.  Gone way, way too soon.  Prayers to him and his family, as well as you and yours. 

[Doebuck1234]

Very sorry to hear of the loss..just never know when it's time,sad......

[crappyice]

Damnit. Sorry for your loss and prayers for the family. While no one looking to go, I guess in your bed peaceful ain't the worst way.

[Lawdwaz]

RIP Joe.   
 

Sounds like a good guy……sorry for your loss Larry. 

[Bolt Action]

Sorry to hear about your friend. 

[grampy]

So sorry to hear about your good friend passing Larry. My heartfelt condolences to you all. 

When you shoot a nice buck this fall. You'll feel Joe's presence. And you'll know he made it even with you.

[corydd7]

Horrible to hear about. Sorry for your loss.

[phade]

Sorry for your loss. Unexpected is definitely tough to deal with. Hopefully time in the woods this year will give you some time to reflect as well. 

[NYRturkeycall]

Condolences for the loss of your good friend. Smile at those good memories, especially while you're sitting in the woods.

[Wolc123]

I know exactly how you feel, having lost one of my best hunting and fishing buddies, a few years ago (also named Joe and also a few years younger than myself).  What really helped me, when I got that news on that opening day of gun season, was opening up my little pocket New Testament to a random page and it just happened to be about the thief who was hung on a cross next to Jesus. 
 

My buddy Joe had some flaws, as we all do, and that caused me to wonder if I’d ever see him again.  I got over that worry real fast when I read the words Jesus said to that thief:  “This day I will be with you in paradise”.  

It also helped me when I looked at the picture on my phone of the buck that I had killed that morning, laying in the cool water with his head resting on a log.  Never have I witnessed a picture of a buck expire so peacefully, as he left this world for the next, at almost the exact same time that my buddy Joe did.  
 

We had a little send off for Joe, down this camp the next summer, and I took the Euro of that buck down there and hung it on his barn for the photo.