Joe Huke passed away peacefully on June 7, 2026, at Virgina Mason Hospital in Seattle.
He was born April 21, 1949, in Juneau to Gladys and Gilbert Gunderson.
Joe grew up in Wrangell attending school and later joined the Army, where he served for three years. Returning from the service, he lived in Klawock where he fished and longshored. He later moved to Clarksville, Tennessee, where he met and married Ruth Curtis on May 13, 1996.
Joe and Ruth both worked for Trinity Marine Products, where he received many awards and accolades for safety that he was very proud of. He was a hard worker and never took sick days or vacations. “He was a good provider for his family. Joe loved to tell stories and had many good memories of his family and friends.”
Joe and Ruth moved to Wrangell in 2012.
“Joe loved his grandbabies very much and made sure to remember birthdays and Christmas. They would Facetime him so he could see them receiving his gifts. He also loved sportfishing and marching in the Fourth of July parade. He would always say to family and friends, ‘Hey, if you see me in parade, make sure you snap my picture!’” his family wrote.
Joe was preceded in death by his parents, Gladys and Gilbert Gunderson; sisters Roseanne Hayes, Sharon Scherrer and Charmaine Benston; brothers Arnold Gunderson and Lyle Jones.
He is survived by his wife, Ruth Curtis Huke, of Trenton, Kentucky; sons Nickey Don Carlos and Jericho Curtis; daughters Alecia Curtis and Christina Huke of Tennessee; sisters Arlene Gedney and Eleanor Knecht of Wrangell; grandkids Izabella Curtis and Kian Dertz of Tennessee.
The family will have a private memorial service for Joe at a later date.
