Joseph Alois Zurfluh

Joseph Alois Zurfluh was born on the family farm in Scio, Oregon, on August 25, 1935, to Anton and Marguerite (Arnold) Zurfluh. He grew up in the Jordan Valley with two brothers and two sisters. Joseph graduated from Scio High School and went to work for Lulay Lumber Company, before deciding to started his own welding business out of West Scio called Zurfluh Manufacturing. Joseph married Litta “Belle” Walker and the two worked the business together while raising four daughters and three sons. Although welder by trade, Joseph was also a skilled carpenter, building a home for himself and four others. Joseph was a hard worker and spent many hours working his business as well as his small five-acre farm. He was an avid gardener and raised cattle on his land. He enjoyed building bird houses for the swallows and building mason bee boxes. Joseph was a people person and enjoyed socializing. Many of his clients became good friends. He read the paper every day and kept up on current events which he would discuss with those he saw throughout the day. Joseph was a good and honest man, always helping people in any way he could. He is a member of the Knights of Columbus. Being the workaholic he was, Joseph continued working after his retirement. He would help his children with many different projects. Joseph was also quite the jokester and always had a new joke or story to tell, right up until his last day on earth, September 7, 2020.  Joseph was preceded in death by his wife Litta “Belle”, parents Anton and Marguerite, his daughter Susan, and his brothers Carl and Hank. He is survived by his children John Zurfluh, Shawn (Kathy) Zurfluh, Mary (Joe) Silbernagel, Glenda (Ivan) Silbernagel, Robert (Angela) Zurfluh, and Cathy (Melvin) Silbernagel; sisters Dorothy (Louie) Brown and Rose Mary (Richard) Voltin; and numerous grandchildren and great-grandchildren.  The family will celebrate his life privately.