Joseph R. Brien's Obituary
Joe was born September 7, 1947 in Minot, North Dakota to Joseph and Eunice Fuller Brien. His family came west to Tacoma when Joe was a young boy and he graduated from Puyallup High School in 1966. Joe served his country in the U.S. Army in Vietnam as a combat medic. He was a proud tribal member of the Turtle Mountain Chippewa Reservation in Belcourt, North Dakota. After the military he was a commercial fisherman on the purse seiner La Touche and later retired from Cement Masons Local Union 528. His early retirement was due to Parkinson's disease as a result of exposure to Agent Orange.
Joe is survived by his wife Mary in Roy, three daughters, Janelle (Scott) Hite in Auburn, Melinda (Mark) Atchley in Auburn, and Shelly (Joe Higgins) Brien in Roy, two sons, Joshua (Kassie) Schwinger in Burien and Joe C. Brien in Roy, his brother Jerry Brien in Tacoma, three sisters, Linda (Jim) Jacobsen in Tacoma, Joan (Randy) Horttor in Randle, and Debby (John) Brynjulfson in Santa Ana, California, his special Aunt Judi in Allyn, as well as eight grandchildren and numerous aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, and cousins.
Joe's family wishes to express their appreciation to Dr. Deborah Hammond at the American Lake VA Hospital and the Franciscan Hospice Team for their compassionate care.
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