Joseph Seckora Jr.

Joseph Seckora Jr., 94, passed peacefully at home on Tuesday, March 3, 2026, in Ukiah, Ca.

Joe was born on September 13, 1931, in Cooks Valley, Wisconsin, to Joseph Seckora Sr. and Eleanora (Steinmitz) Seckora. Joe attended School in Bloomer, Wisconsin, and graduated in 1950. He enlisted in the U.S. Navy in 1951 and received an Honorable Discharge on July 31, 1953, with a full medical disability. Joe was stationed with the Navy Seabee’s as an Operating Engineer constructing the Naval Base at Subic Bay in the Philippines.

After spending a year in the San Francisco VA medical Center, he relocated to Healdsburg, CA, and worked as a mason with his uncle, Martin Mertle. He met his future bride, Ardelle Wheeler, in Fort Bragg, CA, while visiting relatives. They were married on June 27, 1954, in Fort Bragg, CA, and resided there until 1963. They went on to have four children, Joe, Ken, Peggy, and Jerry. He was employed by the County of Mendocino as a heavy equipment operator in Fort Bragg, and then took a promotion as road foreman in Hopland, Ca. He worked there until 1969, when his reoccurring disability returned.

During their years in Hopland, Joe and Ardelle happily hosted parties with multiple very close friends and coworkers, as their motto was “Our door is always open”. Their family enjoyed making unforgettable summer memories, on the road, hitched to a trailer, often headed to Wisconsin for family visits.

In 1974, the Seckora family moved to Sedona, AZ, and then in 1977, to Placerville, CA, both for health reasons. In 1983, Joe and Ardelle found their dream and purchased the Neptune Park Resort in Chiloquin, OR, and operated the park until 1990. They enjoyed putting together numerous functions with both lifelong friends and newfound friendships acquired through the resort.

Retirement came in 1990, as they sold the resort and then built a house just a short distance away on Agency Lake. In 1995, Joe lost his best friend and love of his life, his beloved Ardelle, and he would always long for the day they would be together again.

He eventually moved to Arizona, to be close to his daughter. In 2000, he moved to Ukiah, CA, to live close to his son.

Joe always had a wonderful time socializing, telling stories, sharing beers, and keeping people in laughter with his “wise cracks” up to his last days. “How do you feel?” “With my fingers”. He restored vintage cars for all his children. He was incredibly talented with his woodworking. He was at the most peace while viewing the changing fall colors of the vineyards at home.

Joe was preceded in death by his wife, Ardelle Seckora, and daughter, Peggy Larabee. He is survived by his sons, Joe (Lisa) Seckora, Chippewa Falls, WI; Ken (Lisa) Seckora, Ukiah, CA; Jerry Seckora, Duffield, VA; multiple grandchildren, multiple great-grandchildren, sisters, Arlene Pake, Flint MI; sister Verjean Kunsman, Bloomer WI; sister-in-law, Jean Seckora, Bloomer WI; multiple nieces and nephews, whom like to refer to Uncle Joe as their “favorite uncle”.

To say he will be greatly missed is an understatement, however we’re grateful he left us with a lifetime of memories. Joe will be laid to rest with his wife, Ardelle, at the Hopland Cemetery. A celebration of life will take place on Saturday, May 2, 2026, at The White Pines, in Bloomer Wisconsin.