JOSEPH VINCENT WALEN, 94, BORN APRIL 30, 1920 IN SOUTH WEYMOUTH, MA IS PRE-DECEASED BY HIS BROTHERS, MICHAEL, JR. AND JOHN, SISTER ANN V. AUKSTIKALNIS, HIS PARENTS, MICHAEL AND HELEN, AND HIS BEST FRIEND AND DEAREST COMPANION FOR NEARLY 5 DECADES, HELEN SNIGEREWICH OF HANOVER, MA. HELEN AND JOE SHARED AN ACTIVE SOCIAL LIFE, WITH YEARS OF PATRIOTS GAMES, DINING OUT AND POLKA DANCES IN MASSACHUSETTS AND SURROUNDING STATES. JOE ATTENDED WEYMOUTH SCHOOLS, MANAGED THE WALEN FARMS IN SO. WEYMOUTH, MA, FORMERLY AT THE SOUTH WEYMOUTH AIR BASE. IN ADDITION, HE OPERATED THE ROCKLAND LANDFILL UNTIL HIS RETIREMENT. IN ROCKLAND HE WAS A KEY MEMBER OF THE ROCKLAND RECYCLING COMMITTEE. HE ENJOYED MA AND FEDERAL POLITICS. FOR DECADES HE WAS AN ACTIVE MEMBER OF THE PLYMOUTH COUNTY DEMOCRATIC LEAGUE. HE ATTENDED COUNTLESS DEMOCRATIC CONVENTIONS.

IN HIS THIRTIES, JOE TOOK A VACATION AND DROVE TO ALASKA, A VACATION THAT LASTED FOR 9 YEARS! HE WAS PART OWNER AND WAS ACTIVE IN HIS COAL MINING BUSINESS. IN ADDITION, HE ENJOYED WILDLIFE, NATURE AND WILDERNESS AS AN ENTHUSIAST AND EXPERT. HE ALSO PRIDED HIMSELF ON HIS ALASKAN CABIN (HAD NO PLUMBING OR ELECTRICITY) WHICH HE ENJOYED IN HIS SPARE TIME. HE REGULARLY TRAVELED TO WICKENBURG, AZ, PANNED FOR GOLD, AND CONSISTENTLY PARTICIPATED IN THE GOVERNOR'S TRAIL RIDE. THIS TRAIL RIDE, ON HORSEBACK LASTED FOR A WEEK, COVERED 100 MILES, AND TOOK PLACE BY INVITATION ONLY. FOR NEARLY TWENTY YEARS, HE WAS INVITED! HE ENTHUSIASTICALLY PARTICIPATED AND TOOK HIS LAST TRAIL RIDE AT ALMOST 80 YEARS YOUNG. IN 2004, HE RE-LOCATED FROM ROCKLAND, MA TO BOCA RATON, FL TO BE CLOSE TO HIS FAMILY. EVEN IN HIS LATER YEARS, HE KEPT UP WITH THE NEWS, POLITICS AND BUSINESS. HE READ 3 NEWSPAPERS DAILY. HE WAS AN EXTRAORDINARY MAN WHO LIVED A FULL LIFE. JOE WAS A PEOPLE-PERSON AND THRIVED ON LIVELY AND IN DEPTH DISCUSSIONS. HE WAS THE BEST GUY, PATIENT WITH ALL, HAS MANY NEW FRIENDS AT HIS BANYAN PLACE RESIDENCE. HE PLAYED IT COOL, CAREFULLY DRESSED AND GROOMED, POLITE, AND KIND GENTLEMAN.

HE WILL BE DEARLY MISSED BY HIS NIECE AND FAMILY, BRENDA CHALAS, DENNIS CHALAS, GRAND NEPHEWS, FEDERICO AND DEREK, AND COUNTLESS FRIENDS. JOE WAS A BRILLIANT GUY WHO LIVED, TRULY LIVED, WITHOUT FEAR. MR. WALEN'S FAMILY INVITES FRIENDS AND LOVED ONES TO CELEBRATE HIS LIFE IN THE MAGOUN-BIGGINS FUNERAL HOME 135 UNION ST. ROCKLAND MA 02370, ON FRIDAY SEPTEMBER 26, 2014 FROM 5-7 PM. A FUNERAL MASS WILL BE HELD IN THE HOLY FAMILY CHURCH IN ROCKLAND ON SATURDAY SEPTEMBER 27, AT 9:00 AM. BURIAL WILL BE PRIVATE. IN LIEU OF FLOWERS, DONATIONS MAY BE SENT TO: ASSUMPTION COLLEGE STUDENT FINANCIAL SCHOLARSHIP, C/O MELANIE DEMARAIS 500 SALISBURY ST ,WORCESTER, MA 01609.