Joseph Frank Moser

Dad, brother, uncle, Papa, U.S. Army Air Corp Captain Joseph F. Moser died peacefully at home December 2, 2015 surrounded by family in his hometown of Ferndale WA. Born to Joseph Moser and Mary Imhof on September 13, 1921 of Ferndale, Joe was married to the love of his life Beatrice Jean for 67 years before her passing in 2013. Joe and Jean created and nurtured a family of five children, Janet Christie of Ferndale WA, Joyce Lorenz (Bill) of Twisp WA, Julie Hanes (Albert) of Winthrop, WA, Joseph Jr. (Cheryl) Moser, Bellingham, Jaleen Bacon (Steve) of Ferndale, WA., seven awesome grandchildren, and 7.5 great grandchildren. Dad answered his calling to serve his country in the United States Army Air Corp where he got to fly his beloved P38 Lightning with the 429th Fighter Squadron of the 474th Fighter Group. He was shot down on his 44th mission over France and held in Buchenwald Concentration Camp for two months before being sent to Stalag Luft III, a POW camp. He returned home to Ferndale the summer of 1945 and met and married Jean in 1946. He worked for Holland Furnace, Van’s Sheet Metal, and then retired from Andgar Corporation of Lynden in 1986. In his life he was active playing and coaching baseball and bowled on numerous leagues. He enjoyed fishing, hunting, camping, farming and gardening where he grew fabulous corn and gorgeous dahlias. His garden in Ferndale was the feeding grounds of many local deer. He was a member of the 4th Corner Chapter of American Ex-Prisoners of War, a member of the KLB Club and the P-38 Association, and a lifetime member of St. Joseph Catholic Church in Lynden and Ferndale. After 65 years he was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross at McChord Air Force Base he earned in battle in 1944. In the summer of 2010 Dad was asked to throw out the first pitch at the Seattle Mariners game. At the 2012 Veterans Day celebration at CenturyLink Field, Dad was honored to raise the 12th man flag. This year he received from France, The National Order of the Legion of Honour medal and he was also the first person profiled for “Washington Remembers: Their Sacrifice, Our Freedom”, an exhibit of WWII veterans put together by the Office of the Secretary of State. He was also recently the Blossomtime Parade Grand Marshall in Bellingham, WA. He will be remembered by countless students as he told them his story and to remind them that “Freedom is not Free” and for his love of the American Flag. The family would like to thank Dad’s cousin Frank Imhof who introduced Gerald Baron to Dad who wrote his story “A Fighter Pilot in Buchenwald: the Joe Moser Story” and then to Mike Dorsey who directed the documentary “Lost Airmen of Buchenwald”. Many thanks to Home Attendant Care employees, Kathy and Tomas for their loving care of our hero and dad, Captain Joe, and Whatcom Hospice for making it possible for him to stay at home. In lieu of flowers you may make donations to Bravo 369 Flight Foundation to benefit of the Joe Moser Scholarship Fund. (P.O. Box 2933 Ferndale, WA 98248) or to Whatcom Hospice. A Rosary Service will be held Thursday, December 10, 2015, beginning at 7pm at Moles – Downtown Ferndale. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Ferndale, Friday, December 11, 2015 at 11am, followed by a graveside service at Woodlawn Cemetery, in Ferndale, WA. A Celebration of Life will be held Saturday, December 12, 2015, beginning at 11am at the Pioneer Pavilion Community Center, 2007 Cherry St, in Ferndale, WA..

Joseph Frank Moser

September 13, 1921 - December 2, 2015