May 22, 1945 -November 15, 2016Joseph Lewis Mettler, Jr. passed away on Tuesday, November 15, 2016, surrounded by his family. Joe was born on May 22, 1945 to Joseph and Clara (Kepper) Mettler in Morton, Washington.Joe attended school in Morton, Concrete and Snoqualmie, Washington until he graduated from Mount Si High School in 1963.At the age of 17, Joe and his younger brother Jack followed their father in the tradition of "Trailer Backing" at the Morton Loggers Jubilee. He backed a log truck and trailer in a figure 8 around spar trees. He competed for a few years until he moved to SE Alaska. Jack continued the family tradition for 50 years.Right out of High School, Joe workedaas a "powder monkey" on the John Day Dam. Joe moved to SE Alaska where he worked various jobs such as logging, road construction, and Diesel Mechanic. He also worked on the Alaska Pipeline. In 1990, he moved to the Skagit Valley, where he worked as a project supervisor at Lakeside Industries, later starting his own business, Mettler and Sons Trucking.Joe was a member of the Operating Engineers #302, Elks Club, Eagles and Moose Club. He served on the Sitka Police and Fire Commission, was a member of the Sitka Cemetery Board and the Chamber of Commerce. He paved most of the airports in SE Alaska and most of the roads in Sitka.Joe served in the Navy during the Vietnam War as a Boat Captain on PBR 130, 1967 - 1969. He served with Honor and Distinction. In 2011 he reconnected with most of members of his boat crew and joined the Game Wardens Association, helping to refurbish the boats they had served on during the war.During Joe's years in Ketchikan, his daughter Dawn was born. Joe moved to Sitka where he met Jodi Whitson. They were married and blended their families in 1975 at the Morton Logger's Jubilee.Joe never met a stranger and he was always the fun one in the room. He was a wonderful dancer and he loved to sing, but always added his own words to the songs. Joe loved to travel and brought joy to every journey. Above all, Joe loved his family and friends.Joe is survived by his wife, Jodi Mettler of Burlington, Washington; daughters, Brenda Andersen (Jim) of Juneau, Alaska, Dawn Mettler of Camano Island, WA and Katie Pickrell (Mike) of Big Lake, WA; son, Steven Mettler (Angela Filler) of Bend, Oregon; granddaughters, Kara White of Cordova, AK and Kayla DePriest (Jesse Vaughn) of Juneau, AK; grandsons, James Andersen of Burlington, WA, Tyler Vitalich (Harlee) of Mount Vernon, WA, Hunter Jones of Bend, OR, and Dawson Bellows of Camano Island, WA; great-grandsons, Gunnar DePriest of Juneau, AK, Keyton Vitalich of Mount Vernon, WA and Kasen Vaughn of Juneau, AK; brother, Jack Mettler (Pam); mother-in-law, Bobbie Whitson and numerous nieces, nephews, cousins and friends in Washington, Alaska and Arizona. Joe was preceded in death by his parents, Joseph L. Sr, and Clara (Kepper) Mettler.Graveside Services will be held at 1:00pm, Saturday, November 19, 2016 at the Mount Vernon Cemetery, 1200 East Fir Street, Mount Vernon, Washington. Immediately following the services, a reception will be held at Hillcrest Park Lodge, 1717 South 13th Street in Mount Vernon. In lieu of flowers, the family request contributions be made in Joe's name to: Patrol Boat River (PBR) Fund Game Wardens, Assoc., PO Box 970, Sumner, Washington 98390. Services are under the direction of Lemley Chapel, Sedro-Woolley. Share memories of Joe and sign the online guest register at www.lemleychapel.com.