Joseph James (Joe) Pagel, 39, from Post Falls, Idaho passed away in January 2020. He was born on
September 4 th, 1981 at Deaconess Hospital in Spokane Washington to David Pagel and Barbara Joan
Zanetti.
Joseph grew up in Northern Idaho. He attended local schools and was a keen football player. He also
participated in other sports as well. He was also very active in band and attended both football camp
and band camp during the summers. Joseph graduated from the Rathdrum school district at Lakeland
High School on June 8 th, 2000. During Joe’s collage years, he attended Western Montana University until he returned to Idaho to finish his education at the University of Idaho. He graduated and received his Bachler’s Degree in Secondary Education on December 3rd of 2005 He also played for the Palouse Thunder during this time. In the years since, Joe was a high school math teacher and coached both football and track and field in northern Idaho as well as in Arizona.
Joe carried his love of football into his adulthood and was a diehard Seattle Seahawks fan and loved to
watch college football as well. He has continued to collect both baseball and football card his entire life.
He was also very interested in Cryptozoology, mainly drawn towards a belief in Sasquatch. He liked to
go hunting when he could and fishing as well. Joseph loved music and swimming in the lake during the
summer months. Joseph loved his family, was fiercely protective, and was the absolute best bonus dad a
little boy could have!
Joe was survived by his wife Melissa and step son, Isaiah. Also, by his father, Dave, and step mother,
Jessica, from the Silver Valley. Stephanie, his sister, in the Spokane area. As well many aunts, uncles,
and cousins, both local and spread across the PNW.
In recent years, Joe was diagnosed with liver problems which did, eventually end his life. There were
multiple attempts at obtaining a liver transplant that just did not come through in time. Joseph did get
to spend his last days and weeks surrounded by family and friends and was being well cared for by
amazing nurses and volunteers at the Schneidmiller Hospice House in Northern Idaho.
Charitable contributions can be made in Josephs honor to Hospice of North Idaho Schneidmiller Hospice
House. https://www.hospiceofnorthidaho.org/donate/