Joseph Vincent Shoemaker
April 5, 1919 ~ January 20, 2011
Resided in:
Charlottesville, VA
Asheville Butterfly Trail
Joseph "Joe" Vincent Shoemaker, 91, loving husband, father, "Pop", brother, and friend of the Asheville community passed away on January 20, 2011 in Charlottesville, VA.
Born April 5, 1919, in Mondavi, WI, Joe was the 5th of 10 children, born to the late John Milton and Alice Smith Shoemaker.
He is survived by his wife of 67 years, Katherine Ledford Shoemaker, daughter, Sandy Shoemaker Natterer, son-in-law, Hans Natterer of Charlottesville, VA; and granddaughter, Mandy Natterer of Indianapolis, IN. Surviving siblings are Henrietta Riordan, Raymond Shoemaker, Bernadette Wiltjer, Roberta Forester. Siblings preceding him in death are Mary Patterson, Agnes Reinders, Bill Shoemaker, John Milton (Dutch) Shoemaker, Ethelreda Shoemaker.
Joe's life in Asheville began in 1946 when he and Katherine relocated from Detroit, MI. He was best known in Buncombe County as a builder and developer. In partnership with Brooks Ledford, they recognized early on the need for urban renewal and affordable housing.
He believed in the importance of community service through volunteering his time in the West Asheville Kiwanis Club, implementing and participating in an enrichment reading program for children. He also loved participating in the Kiwanis Flag Project as well as sponsoring Little League teams through his business.
Joe loved life to the fullest. He was a dedicated member of West Asheville Baptist Church, actively participated in the men's Sunday school class and served in many other capacities. He always enjoyed family outings, fishing trips and his weekly golf games. Joe's generosity of spirit will be missed by all who knew and loved him.
Visitation for family and friends will be held on Monday, January 24, 2011 from 12:00–2:00 pm in the Patton Avenue chapel of Groce Funeral Home, followed by the celebration of his life at 2:00 pm and interment at Ashelawn Gardens.
In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the Building Fund of West Asheville Baptist Church, 926 Haywood Rd, Asheville, NC 28806 or to Meals on Wheels, 146 Victoria Rd, Asheville, NC 28801.
To all of the Shoemaker family far and near.
Uncle Joe was such a sweet man and always made you feel welcome to his home. We visited several years ago and it was wonderful. Sandi and Aunt Katherine I wish we could be there for you, but now he can join the rest of the family that has gone before him and rest in peace. He will be surely missed. Love Corinne and Tom
Dear Katherine, Sandy and family,
It’s been many years since the Autreys and the Shoemakers have been together. We remember fondly the times we have shared. Joe and Katherine, Lee and Ruby were true friends who made special memories with each other.
Katherine and Sandy, although we have been gone from Asheville for 30 years now, it seems like yesterday that our families were going out to eat together.
Joe was a remarkable man who loved the Lord and his family. Please accept our heartfelt condolences in your loss.
Our Love and Prayers, Ron and Toni
Dear Katherine,
My thoughts and prayers are with you for your lost.
Joe was a friend in business and in the W. Asheville Kiwanis.
Joe will be missed by all who knew him.
Dear Katherine and Sandy,
We have wonderful memories of so many good times together, and of how thoughtful and caring Joe was toward your family members throughout the years. Mother enjoyed all your visits and her visits with you as long as she was able to go. I am thankful to Joe and you for being there for her. Please know that our thoughts and prayers are with you now. We all will miss him.
Love you very much, Karen
Aunt Katherine, Sandy and family,
Some of my fondest memories of Uncle Joe was his easy laugh and his Southern Hospitality. He along with Aunt Katherine, would sure made you feel so welcomed in their home.
I remember when we were very young, Uncle Joe took movies of our family which we will treasure forever, but most of all I will never forget his love of his family. It was beautiful to see how much he loved you Aunt Katherine and how proud he was of Sandy and her family.
Uncle Joe may you rest in God’s Peace.
Dear Katherine and Sandy, Joe was such a special man and was very loved by our family. He always had a big smile and a willingness to help any way he could. Not only did he and Brook build Mom and Dad’s house in 1972, but he helped me locate a builder when I renovated their house in 2008. I so appreciated his help. He will be greatly missed. So sorry for your loss. May God Bless. Love, Terry Eller Parker and Marsha Eller
Aunt Katherine,we are thinking and praying for you at this difficult time.May our memories bring comfort to our hearts.
Your Nephew
Donald
Although I lost track of you I remember how kind and sweet to me you always were in school and at West Asheville Baptist Church. I was sorry to read of your father’s death. My sincere condolences to you and your family. I will keep you in thoughts and prayers.
Sharon Rice Joyner
Katherine, Sandy and Family,
Our thoughts and prayers are with you during this time. May you find strength and comfort from God and feel Him very near to you during your time of sorrow.
We remember the day Joe came to our house to pick up Sandy’s beautiful white dog that had safely crossed patton ave.
May God bless you and may you take comfort it is only a short time till we will see our loved one once more.
In Christian love,
Cecil& Linda
Katherine, Sandy & family,
I have good memories of Joe. He was positive, encouraging and gentle…always very gracious. I think of visits to our house, sitting on our porch listening to him and Daddy laughing and swapping stories.I’m thankful to know that Joe is now in the place that ‘was prepared for him.’ I pray that many good memories of him will fill your minds. You can take comfort in knowing that his was a life well lived and that he left a positive touch on so many people. I know you will miss him. May God bless you with His love and comfort during the days ahead.
Love,
Janice Chambers Hughes
Dear Mrs Shoemaker, Sandy & family,
So many WONDERFUL memories of Mr Shoemaker! Something just told me to come & check obits, I’m SO sorry he’s not with us anymore, but he’s in a wonderful place now.
Thank you all for all the memories, of each of you! You’ve always been such a special blessing to me!
Love,
Vicki Gardner Anderson
Mrs. Shoemaker, Sandy and family,I send my condolences. Know that I lift your family in prayer. I have warm memories of our jr and sr high school years being around Mr. Shoemaker. His strength of character and love of life was evidenced in his daughter, Sandy. I’m sure if you looked up ‘loving husband and father’ in the dictionary his picture would be there. The family should know he made a difference in many lives. I am glad I had the opportunity to know him and his wife and daughter.
Dear Sandy and Mrs. Shoemaker-
Tom Ressler just let me know about your loss. I extend my deepest sympathy to you. I remember Mr. Shoemaker’s kindness and support, and I’m glad you were blessed with him in your lives until now. Please know you’re in my thoughts and prayers. With love, Johnny Haber
What a good neighbor! We will miss seeing him working in the yard (which was always perfectly kept) with Mrs Shoemaker. He always had a smile and waved as we passed by. We already miss them. God bless and comfort to you all.
Dear Sandy and Mrs. Shoemaker,
It has been our privilege to live in Wilshire Park with Mr. and Mrs. S for the past 20 years. What a joy to watch them work together in their yard. What a team! They have meant so much to our Aunt Ruth and Uncle Bill Wolter over these many years as next door neighbors. Our love and prayers for you. Bruce and Rachel Jensen
Dear Sandy and Mrs. Shoemaker,
It has been our privilege to live in Wilshire Park with Mr. and Mrs. S for the past 20 years. What a joy to watch them work together in their yard. What a team! They have meant so much to our aunt and uncle Ruth and Bill Wolter over these many years as next door neighbors. Our love and prayers for you. Bruce and Rachel Jensen
Dear Sandy,
I’m very sorry to hear of your loss. Thinking of you with warm thoughts and memories of our teenage years.
Love,
Jim
Dear Sandy,
I just found out about your dad and wanted to let you know how much I enjoyed our times together in your driveway – practicing our routines, decorating floats, laughing and being silly. I remember your mom & dad with such fondness – they were always so welcoming and great to all of us. Please give your mother a special hug from me and if I were there, would give one to you, too. I hope that wonderful memories will be a comfort and I’ll keep you and your family in my prayers.
With love, Susan
Dear Mrs. Shoemaker, Sandy,and family.
We were so honored to have known Joe. I know that Mark admired him so. I have enjoyed all of the stories he has related to me about Joe and his earlier years.
I will never forget the times Joe would visit us at Tropical Gardens. He was always the perfect gentleman. To watch him battle what he did the last years of his life was such an inspiration to us all.
May God bless you all in your time of loss, but we know that heaven became a much sweeter place with the passing of your sweet Dad.
Tammy and Mark Zimmermann and family
Dear Sandy,
Our thoughts and prayers are with you and your family. We always had fun up at your house on the hilltop!
Your mother and father were great!
Please take comfort in these words:
‘And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.’ Rev 21:4 KJV
With much love and kindest regards,
David Henson
Katherine and Family,
My heart grieves for each of you in the loss of Joe. He was a great christian example to me always. He loved to help others. He and Brooks helped Jerry & I purchase 2 new homes through the years.We would not have shared the joy of being a homeowner without their generosity. I will never forget what a wonderful man he was was. My prayers are with you.
Sincerely,
Betty Plemmons & brother Carl Swann
Dear Katherine-I send my deepest and most sincere condoleneces. My mother and father, Don and Charlotte Norton, enjoyed their many good times with you and Joe and considered you special friends. When they passed, you were so kind and supportive. You and Sandy are in my thoughts and prayers. Donna Norton Bruni
Dear Sandy, I’m not sure that you’ll remember me, but I was in the Lee Edwards class of ’65 and one of the boys in the neighborhood, who volunteered to dance with you and the other ballerinas at Fletcher Dance studio in preparation for Swan Lake at the Civic Center years ago. I always regretted that I wasn’t chosen to be your partner, but you graciously danced with me once and I have always remembered how kind you were to a skinny kid with two left feet. I lost my father two years ago at age 91 and I know that you are never ready to let them go. I wish I had known yours as he sounded like the Christian father that everyone loved. I too became a believer when I turned 33, and hope to one day meet him and you in Heaven. My prayer for you is ‘the peace that passes all understanding.’ Love, Steve Parker
Hello dear Sandy,
I have just heard of your father’s passing and want to send my love and best wishes to you and your mother at this time. We have such a wonderful group of folks who were together all those years ago at Lee Edwards. You were one of the shining lights and I remember how much you loved and respected your parents. It was great to see you at the reunion in 2006 – I hope we can catch up in the not-too-distant future! Know that you are in my thoughts and that I send you a thousand hugs and blessings. Pam