Joseph Kala Waiwaiole, Jr Obituary (2023)

Joseph Kala Waiwaiole, Jr, “Pineapple” and “Butchie Boy”, 82, of Round Rock, Texas, passed away on April 13, 2023. Joe was born March 28, 1941, to Joseph Kala Waiwaiole and Mary Hiiaka Ka’ua in Honolulu, Hawaii. He spent his youth as a beach boy, surf instructor, and outrigger canoe racer in Waikiki. In 1962 he met Sharon Mae (Erickson) Waiwaiole and had three children. He left the islands and moved to Minneapolis Minnesota where he was a journeyman mailer at the StarTribune and retired from there in 2001 after 30 years of service. He then relocated to Round Rock Texas to be near his youngest son and family. While visiting his niece Kehaulani Harris and her husband Kirk Akina in Las Vegas, Nevada to celebrate his 82nd birthday, he suffered a stroke, cardiac arrest, and died. Our appreciation to Summerlin Hospital ICU medical staff for their superb care during his last two weeks of life! Throughout his life Joe was in numerous sports clubs, leagues, and on teams including boating, bowling, racquetball, sailing, skateboarding, skiing, snowmobiling, softball, tennis, and volleyball. Joe coached multiple youth and adult teams for Bloomington Fire Dept, Hamline University, Lakeville and Stillwater High Schools, and other recreation leagues. He played bass guitar, sang, and danced for the Kanikapila Hawaiian dance and music club and was also a volunteer firefighter in Bloomington, as well as a volunteer Water Patrol Deputy Sheriff for Hennepin County. Joe was preceded in death by his parents and sisters Jean (Waiwaiole) Brown and Abbie (Waiwaiole) Havre. He is survived by children Brent (Linda), Wendy, and Joel Waiwaiole; grandchildren Jordan (Lani), Bethany, and Noah Waiwaiole, Guthrie Pritchard, and Mary Elizabeth, Caroline, Edythe, and Ruth Waiwaiole; great grandchildren Ezekiel, Joanna, and Eden Waiwaiole. He is also survived by adored nieces, nephews, cousins, his beach boys and sports families, and several cherished friends. Services will be determined after cremation and announced at a future date.