For 25 years, Joe traveled a large territory in eastern Nebraska as a salesman for Ancona Bros. In the early '70s, Joe's passion for hunting and running his retrievers in field trials turned professional with the building of Platte View Kennels. Joe traveled with Karen and his family across Nebraska and to many states to successfully run and place his client's dogs in field trial competition. Joe, with several of his fellow trainers, brought the AKC Hunting Tests to Nebraska. For years after his retirement in 1995, Joe continued to oversee gunners and shoot in local field trials.
Joe hunted waterfowl and fished the Platte River for most of his life. He spent the 60's and 70's hunting waterfowl at Rogers Nebraska; where he shot teal this last fall of 2018. Joe hunted upland game in eastern Nebraska and western Iowa and enjoyed annual trips to the Sand Hills with family and friends to hunt waterfowl and prairie chicken. Joe's duck calling skill and an eye for a decoy spread led to a 34-year career as a professional guide on the Nishnabotna River near Shenandoah, Iowa. In 1998, Joe started the waterfowl season in Canada and ended the season in Texas where he spent many of his winters with Karen polka dancing. His family and hunting buddies have lovingly referred to Joe as the "Last of the Breed."
Joe was preceded in death by his parents and brother, Richard. He is survived by his wife Karen; sons Kenneth and Brenda (Zentner), and Timothy and Candance (Smith); daughter Jan Kirkner and Randy; sister Rosemary Paasch; grandchildren Lee Vampola and Keri, Kathryn Vampola, Joseph Vampola and Katlin, Sarah Vampola, Stephanie Vampola-Runyan and Ryan Runyan, Tiffanie Hunt and Alex, Tillara Kruse and Matthew, Kailey Maloney and Tom, and Allysa Stoupa; great-grandchildren Connor, Michaela, Harrison, Nora, Emma, and William; other relatives and many friends.
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