GREAT FALLS - Joseph Elmer Bass, 85, of Great Falls, a carpenter and Navy veteran, died of natural causes Saturday at a local nursing home.
Memorial graveside services with military honors are 3 p.m. Thursday, June 29, at the Veterans Cemetery in Fort Harrison.
Survivors include a daughter, Lane (Sandy) Long of Huson; sons, Brian (Margie) Bass of Boise, Idaho, and Brent (Connie) Bass of Great Falls; seven grandchildren; and one great-grandson.
He was preceded in death by his parents; a brother, George Bass; and his ex-wife, Shirley Bass.
Joe was born Aug. 19, 1920, in Carbondale, Ill., to Elmer and Dorothy Bass.
In 1938, he enlisted in the U.S. Navy, serving on the destroyers USS Milwaukee and as a second gunner's mate on the USS San Diego and USS Lowry. On May 4, 1945, he was wounded in action and received the Purple Heart.
Joe married Shirley Bleecker in 1944 in Los Angeles. They later divorced but remained friends until her death in March 1998. After being honorably discharged in November 1945, Joe and Shirley lived in Great Falls, where Joe was part owner of Formacove kitchen and bath construction.
In 1964, they moved to Missoula, where Joe was self-employed in kitchen construction. They returned to Great Falls in 1976, and he continued to do kitchen and bath construction until retiring.
Joe enjoyed attending ship reunions of the USS destroyers San Diego and Lowry. His service in the Navy was a memorable part of his life. He also enjoyed watching baseball and getting to watch his grandson, Cole, play T-ball.
Joe's warm smile and always cheerful attitude touched all those who knew him. He will be forever missed.
Joseph Elmer Bass was born on 19. Aug. 1920 at Carbondale, Jackson County, Illinois. He was the son of
Elmer Bass and
Dorothy (Unknown). Joseph Elmer Bass married
Shirley Louise Bleecker, daughter of
Horace Hampton Bleecker and
Selma Tonette Hanson, in 1944 at Los Angeles, Los Angeles County, California. Joseph Elmer Bass died in Jun. 2006 at age 85.