Joseph Patrick Durkin passed away on Friday January 13, 2023 at home surrounded by family.

He was born, a son of a coal miner, in Old Forge, PA to Martin Durkin and Ann (nee) Flynn on July 14, 1921. He was 101 years old.
He arrived in Grass Valley in January of 1940 with his mother and younger brother. He soon got a job at the North Star Mine as a mucker. He left that job and found employment at the Idaho Maryland Mine as an electric trolley driver.

He was drafted into the Army in September 1942. On October 6, 1943 he shipped out of Newport News, Virginia. All of the men on board the ship thought they were going to Europe, but they ended up in the Pacific. He said the closest he ever came to dying was on the “ill-fated” Christmas convoy to Mindoro where they were attached by Japanese Kamikaze planes. He was lucky enough to run into his younger brother on the island of Leyte in the Philippines and was nearly AWOL when his brother’s ship almost shipped out with him on it.

After the war, he came back to Grass Valley and got a job with Pacific Telephone & Telegraph (PT&T). He worked on the construction crew and was a pioneer of sorts for the phone company setting poles and stringing lines over the Sierra Buttes and Donner Summit. They had to use 28′ ladders to clear the snow off the phone lines. The snow was 18′ deep. He retired from the phone company after 36 years.

He married Frances Johnson in 1947 and they had four children. He lost his wife in 2013 but he was blessed to have all of his children living close to him in Grass Valley.

Joe has always had a great sense of humor and was a master of the “pun”. Just about anything would remind him of a song and he would often sing whatever came to mind. In his younger years he loved to dance and was a hot pinochle player.

When he was still driving, he used to love to clip coupons and drive around to all the grocery stores to get the good deals and enter the contests. He always thought his birthday (7-14-21) was a lucky number. Indeed, he has won a couple of great prizes, a trip to Hawaii from Safeway and a $2000.00 shopping spree from SPD as well as numerous smaller prizes.

His favorite thing in life was being a dad and he was a great one! He was well loved and will be greatly missed.

He is predeceased by his parents Martin and Ann, wife Frances, grandson Peter, siblings John, Mary, Jim, Marty and son-in-law Neal Harrington.

He is survived by his children Diane, Mike (Deb), Marty (Debbie), and Tracy Harrington; grandchildren JoAnn Tassone, Katy Wills (Dave), Jessica Contreras (Damian), Amber Durkin, Michelle Donovan (Jay), Kayla Harrington (Daniel), and Trent Harrington; great grandchildren Shawn, Shelby, Joey, Emily, Jonah, Kyler, Lily, numerous nieces and nephews and another great grandchild on the way.

Special thanks to his caregiver Sharon Mackie for her many years of devotion and to all the compassionate nurses and social workers from Hospice of the Foothills who offered comfort and guidance. Thanks also to all of the wonderful volunteers with Meals on Wheels.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Hospice of the Foothills, Gold Country Community Services (Meals on Wheels) or a charity of your choice.

There will be a graveside service at Saint Patrick’s Cemetery on Friday February 3rd at 11:00am. Reception to follow at the Love Building in Condon Park.

Arrangements are under the direction of Hooper & Weaver Mortuary.