Joseph (‘Joe’) Walter Dahlstrom, 80, died on Friday, March 28th in Jacksonville, Florida. He was a devoted husband of 57 years to Tricia (“Terrie”) Irene Dahlstrom (née Pearson), loving father to Lara, Lillian, and Joseph; cherished grandfather to Alexandria Rathnau, Michael Anthony Miller, Matthew Rutledge, and Chloe Butcher; and beloved great-grandfather to Anastasia Dahlstrom, Cole Dahlstrom, Chase Anthony Rutledge, and Royce Rutledge. He was preceded in death by his parents, Lillian Alexandria (née Ignas) and Joseph Vincent Dahlstrom, and a brother, Michael, and a sister, Mary. Joe was the oldest brother to Daniel (Eugenie), Patrick (Rebecca), William (Mary Claire),  Robert (Susan), and Larry Ignas (Rosa) who was his best friend throughout life. He is also survived by his in-law, Rita Smith of Farwell, Michigan, and Lucy Arnold, Greencastle as well as many nieces and nephews who will miss his warm smile, encouragement, and affection. Joe was born in East Chicago, Indiana, on October 15, 1944. During childhood, he moved with his family to Shell Lake and Superior, Wisconsin, Minneapolis, Minnesota, and finally to Niles, Illinois, before entering the Divine Word Missionaries’ minor (high school) seminary at East Troy, Wisconsin.  After graduating in 1962, Joe enrolled in Miramar, the Divine Word college in Duxbury, Massachusetts, before transferring to St. Louis University, where he received his bachelor’s degree in psychology in 1966. In St. Louis, Joe played semi-professional hockey, bought and sold cars (who can forget the black Cadillac), and sampled the best of St. Louis night life. He next attended the Officers’ Candidate School in Fort Benning, Georgia, where he was commissioned a Second Lieutenant in the U.S. Army before being stationed overseas in Germany. Thereafter, he was stationed at Fort Riley, Kansas, where he met Terrie, whom he married in Brazil, Indiana, in 1968. He subsequently worked for General Mills, Chesebrough-Ponds, and Polaroid. Known for his warmth, kindness, integrity, and engaging personality, Joe lived a life devoted to his family. He loved and was proud of each of his children and grandchildren and sought to bring them as much happiness as he could. An ardent sports and racing fan, over the years, Joe frequented stadiums and arenas in all the cities where he lived and was a regular for years at the Indianapolis 500 in the pits and in the stands. In addition to being a member of the Knights of Columbus and a faithful member of the Annunciation Church in Brazil as well as Corpus Cristi Catholic Church in Florida, Joe served in the Army Reserves, attaining the rank of Major as company commander in the Terre Haute Indiana national guard. Joe retired to Florida, where he enjoyed spending his days with Terrie, enjoying the companionship of his friends at Grand Living at Tamaya, playing with his grandchildren, listening to the surf, and walking on the beach.

A mass of christian burial will be held at 11:00 A.M. Saturday, April 26, 2025 at Annunciation Catholic Church in Brazil. The family will accept friends for visitation on Friday, April 25, 2025 from 5:00-7:00 P.M at Moore Funeral Home in Brazil.