- Date Of Birth: September 17, 1928
- Date Of Death: August 23, 2019
- Resting Place: Anchorage
- City: McGrath
- State: Alaska
Long time bush pilot, Joseph “Joe” Jefferson Vanderpool died Friday, August 23rd, 2019 peacefully with his family by his side.
He was born September 17th, 1928 to William T. Vanderpool and Sophie Vanderpool at the Vanderpool homestead in McGrath, Alaska. Joe resided in McGrath until he was 5 years old when he was sent to the Jessie Lee Home in Seward, Alaska where he attended school until he was 13 years old. He then moved to Anchorage, Alaska where he took up odd jobs to help him pay for his dream of becoming a pilot. He took lessons at Merrill Field, and he soloed on April 22nd, 1945 at the young age of 16. He was an airline pilot for Wein Airlines, Northern Consolidated Airlines, Bush Air, Faulkner & Walsh, and many other companies throughout his days as a pilot Joe. He flew all over the state of Alaska and built lasting friendships along the way. Joe was a bush pilot most of his life; it was his passion and something he loved to do and is a legend in his own right.
He is survived by his sister Avis Dunkin, brother Roy Vanderpool; daughters Kathy Vanderpool Laird, Michelle “Mike” Vanderpool, Janice Vanderpool, Sharon “Joy” Vanderpool, and Emma “Isha” Twitchell and his last surviving son, Joseph Vanderpool, Jr. He also leaves behind 29 grandchildren, and 11 great-grandchildren. He is preceded in death by; his father & mother, his brother Woodrow, Lewis “Buster”, Robert, Sr., sisters, Rose, Nora, Alice, and Sophie and sons Woodrow “Woody”, William, Nicklaus “Jake”. Joe was a caring, generous, loving person who will be deeply missed but we know he is back in his favorite plane flying high once again!
