In Memory sorted alphabetically

Joseph Semancik - Year Entered 1970

Joseph Semancik

 

 

Joseph Semancik, age 65, died on Thursday, April 19, 2018, from the relentless effects of ALS. Joseph was born in New Jersey, the only child of older parents. He was called at an early age and began attending Ambassador College in Pasadena, California, in 1970, graduating in 1974. Joe was a computer programmer and was employed by the Church for a number of years in Pasadena before moving to the Seattle area in 1980, where he worked for several large corporations, programing IBM mainframe computers.

Joe loved to explore the world, and he traveled extensively in the U.S., and to many international Feast sites. Along his journeys he met many acquaintances among Church members over the years. Behind the scenes, Joe was quietly generous, helping many people and volunteering in many worthy causes. He was especially passionate about volunteering to help wounded birds of prey to be restored to health, volunteering in facilities in Arizona, Washington and Alaska.

On a personal note, from Roc Corbett, Joe’s closest friend and last pastor: “Joe had no remaining living relatives, but God placed him in our family as a friend and brother for 48 years. It was a blessing to live close to him these last, nearly three, years to help see him through this trial. Accepting God’s will in his life, Joe never complained about having ALS.”

For 32 months Joe was blessed with some of the best care available in the Puget Sound area for ALS patients. The example he set resulted in several of his doctors and nurses becoming his friends, and some of his medical team made personal visits from Seattle to see him in Tacoma months after he was no longer in their care. Joe remained faithful over the years, enduring many difficult trials, but continuing to explore and travel as long as he was able. It seemed that as his body grew weaker toward the end, his faith grew stronger. It was inspiring to see how God was with him during the concluding part of his journey in this life.

Joe’s ashes were scattered in a private ceremony in the beautiful waters of the San Juan Islands in Puget Sound. An informal “celebration of life” was planned at 1 p.m. on Sunday, May 27, 2018, at the Owen Beach Pavilion in Point Defiance Park in Tacoma, Washington.

 

His death listed in United Church of God's publication United News







UA-51763549-1 UA-167577202-1