Joseph “Joe” Rene Tardif was born June 13, 1950 in Ephrata and died April 23, 2018 at the University of Washington Hospital after having suffered an aortic dissection and massive stroke.

The youngest son and fourth child born into a family of five, Joe moved to Queen Anne Hill in Seattle with his family at age two. He attended high school at Seattle Prep and graduated from Queen Anne High, working various jobs over the years including a stint at Frederick & Nelson’s operating the elevators and worked in commercial maintenance for many years. He lived most of his life in Seattle, until moving to Bainbridge Island in 2015.

“Uncle Joe” was always ready to lend a hand, with an uncanny ability to fix what was broken, making use of whatever material was readily available. No matter the project, Joe would build something never yet seen and always with great determination and steadiness of hand. He loved planning and executing new ideas or discovering new ways to solve problems. An avid fan of Boeing Surplus over many years, Joe collected and used all sorts of rare materials to invent everything from water walking shoes to his recent vision of a collapsible hard-sided boat.

Reading the daily newspaper and keeping current on local and world affairs was very important to Joe, as were his weekly Saturday morning breakfasts with his brother, John. Most of all, he always came ready to dive in and help, share a cuppa, talk politics or tell a good story — and with a warm voice and smile to put anyone at ease. And always sporting his signature white hat. He was an uncle who knew how to play, delighting his nieces and nephews with his joyful engagement with them, genuine interest in their pursuits and great love for them.

Preceded in death by his parents Ernest Joseph Tardif, MD and Edith Marie Madsen Tardif, Seattle. He is survived by his siblings, Anina (Bob) McCormic of Bainbridge Island, Yvonne (Bob) Ringgenberg of Mercer Island, WA., John (Debi) Tardif of Seattle, and Catherine (David) Tardif-Douglin of Bethesda, Maryland, and six nieces, three nephews, three grandnephews and two grandnieces,

He will be remembered with affection and sorely missed by his family and all who knew him.

A service will be held for Joe at St. Joseph Parish, 732 18th Ave. East, Seattle at 11 a.m. Friday, June 8.