Lawrence Floyd Joseph
Dec 29, 1940 -
Oct 17, 2022
Lawrence Floyd Joseph, age 81, passed away peacefully on Monday, Oct. 17, 2022, at Providence Hospital, two years after an amazing recovery from two separate strokes. He was surrounded with love at the time of his passing by his beloved wife Bernice. Larry was born in Stevens Village, Alaska, along the banks of the Yukon River in 1940, to Carrie Joseph (nee Sam) of Stevens Village and Lawrence Joseph of Tanana, occupation Trapper. Larry was a precocious worker; his first job was hunting and trapping around Stevens Village as a child, while attending elementary school in Stevens Village. He left Stevens Village to continue his education in Fairbanks at Main School. Larry, born with a keen intelligence, sense of adventure and love of life, left school early, completing his education at Anchorage Community College.
He met his wife Bernice Joseph (nee George) of Fort Yukon, in Anchorage, Alaska, in 1964, while she was attending school. It was love at first sight. He made her laugh, and kept her laughing for the 58 years they were together, while raising two children in Anchorage. Larry is preceded in death by his son, Lawrence "David" Joseph; daughter, Lena "Terri" Theresa Joseph; brother, Harrison Joseph; father, Lawrence Joseph of Tanana; mother, Carrie Joseph of Stevens Village; maternal grandparents, Harry and Clara Sam of Stevens Village; paternal grandparents, Sam Joseph and Sophie Joseph of Tanana; uncle, Charles "Tucky" and aunt Marjorie Mayo; aunt, Nora Drescher of Birch Creek; and nephews, Vernon Henzler, Duane James and Aaron Drescher. He is survived by his wife, Bernice Joseph of Anchorage; sister, Marilyn Joseph; brothers,
Reggie and Robert Joseph of Fairbanks, Alaska; cousin, Bonnie Mayo of Fairbanks; and sister-in-law, Grace Henzler (nee George) of Fort Yukon with husband Jude Henzler and their children Richard, Robert, Jennifer, Randall and Michele Henzler. He was especially fond and proud of his extensive extended family throughout Alaska and the nation. As a father, Larry found immense joy in his children, spending time in the outdoors taking them camping, boating and teaching them to shoot, where both excelled in the sport and were top-ranked state high school shooters. Larry supported his son Davey's entry into the Marines, and was especially proud of Davey's six years of military service to this country. Terri, his daughter, had a special place in his heart, and he was tickled at the adventures she completed, driving her Miata and Harley Davidson around the state, and fearless travel around the nation and world. Larry was a dedicated employee, especially well-regarded in his field. He helped to build the infrastructure of the modern state of Alaska.
Following the birth of his two children, then employed by the Alaska Railroad he realized that his $100 a week was not going to be enough for his young family to thrive. He informed Bernice that they needed to "talk," and told her that he couldn't support the family with his current job, so he was hired onto an oil rig up in Prudhoe Bay. Upon his return from the slope, he again told Bernice that it was not a job for him, that he needed an education, so he put himself through school to get his survey tech certificate. Upon earning the two-year Survey Tech certificate, he was immediately hired on as a Party Chief for Morrison-Knudsen working on the new trans-Alaska oil pipeline. He worked as a Party Chief for 15 years for different companies, Peter Kiewit, Fluor Alaska Construction, Anglo Construction Co., Hoffman Construction, and became a Field Engineer in 2000, working for Houston Contracting company, Conoco Philips, Conam Construction Co., Nanuq Conam Aglaq, Phillips 66 Alpine, H.C. Price and Price/Ahtna. He continued as a field and project engineer until his retirement. Larry was a member of Teamsters Technical Engineers of Alaska, Local 959. Larry was respected for his dedication to any job, desire to learn and incorporate new skills and ability to work in remote arctic field conditions.
After retirement, he found time to hone his boating skills, spending time in his favorite places, with Bernice beside him: boating and camping along the Yukon River, especially in the autumn, running his boat around Seward, where Bernice was happy to spend all of her time fishing, and Larry, whom had no interest in the fish, was happy to captain the boat in all these pristine and beautiful places. During a fishing trip to Seward, he let Bodie, his 4-year old great-nephew operate the boat, whom immediately accelerated and ran the boat straight and true with the confidence of his uncle, whom never failed to be amused by the memory. Larry also embarked on a late calling, at age 67, to try his hand at skydiving; he then proceeded to take five more leaps out of a perfectly good airplane, enjoying every single descent.
Larry was a kind and gentle man, through thick and thin, his sense of humor never failed and he was just a cool guy. He listened to the Rolling Stones, and all the cool 60-70s rock. He always wore Levi's 501 jeans, with requisite cowboy boots. He had all the latest gadgets, the first Atari video game and the first laser disc movies played at his house 15 years before CDs were even a thing, allowing all of us laugh along to Cheech and Chong's movies, even though us kids didn't get most of the jokes at the time, but the raucous laughter from the adults still reverberates. He will be missed.
Bernice and her family would like to thank all the care providers that have assisted with caring for Larry over the last two years, Providence ER and Hospital staff, ANMC ER and hospital staff, Anchorage Fire Department and all the wonderful neighbors, family and friends. John 3:16 - "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in in him should not perish, but have everlasting life."
A memorial service for Larry will be at Witzleben Legacy Funeral Home, 1707 South Bragaw Street in Anchorage, at 3 p.m., on Wednesday, Oct. 26, 2022 . Funeral services provided by Witzleben Legacy Funeral Home.
