Joseph Eugene Gette
Joseph
Eugene Gette was born on July 11, 1925, in Munich, North Dakota. He was the
first child of Andrew and Elizabeth Gette to be born in the United States.
Living on a farm in North Dakota, the language at home was German while the
language at school was English.
As with so many people of
this generation, Joe Gette walked miles to school each day. Education was a
priority for Joe and in 1941, he left his Dad's farm in North Dakota to attend
high school in Fort Worth, Texas, where he lived with his sister, Elizabeth. His
father, at the time, wanted him to take over the family farm and to quit school
at the age of 15. Joe and his father made a deal...one year of school in Fort
Worth. If Joe did not return to North Dakota and take over the farm, his father
would sell it. Joe went on to graduate from Arlington Heights High School in
Fort Worth in 1943. After graduation, Joe enlisted in the U.S. Navy and served
on the U.S.S. Klondike.
In late 1944, while
hospitalized at a military hospital in California, he met Phyllis Ruth Cole and
on February 11, 1945, they married. Sailor blues and a nice wool suit was the
attire for this wedding while World War II continued. Joe remained in the Navy
until March 1946. Phyllis was determined that their first child was not going
to be while Joe was still in the military. Their first child, Tim, was born on
April 11, 1946 at San Bernardino Community Hospital. A second child, Marlene,
was born on July 7, 1949, in San Bernardino also. Joe returned to college,
pursuing a degree at Loyola University in Los Angeles. While at Loyola, Joe
participated in the Military Reserves and when the Korean Conflict developed, he
was called to active duty. Joe made the U.S. Air Force a career after serving
in the Korean Conflict. After tours in Middletown, Pennsylvania; Montgomery,
Alabama, Joe and Phyllis moved to France.
In 1959, our family grew
with the help of Mrs. Elizabeth Dommermuth and Father John Finke. Joe and
Phyllis now had the three children that they wanted -- Tim, Marlene and Andy.
In 1960, they left Chatearoux, France and moved to Charleston, South Carolina,
where Joe was assigned to Charleston AFB.
Three years later, they were
on the road again, this time to Lajes AFB on Terceria Island in the Azores.
After the Azores, it was Goodfellow AFB in San Angelo, Texas. San Angelo would
prove to be home for Joe and Phyllis. After three years in San Angelo, Joe
received his last overseas assignment...to RAF Chicksands in England. Then, it
was back to San Angelo where Joe and Phyllis retired from the military life and
remained until they died.
Phylllis
died in 1997 and
Joe
died in 1998. They are both buried in San Angelo's historic
Fairmount Cemetery.
Timothy Joseph
Eugene Gette
Beverly
Marlene Gette
Andrew Gerard Gette
In 1943, Joe was on a ship in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii.
Joe Gette enlisted in the United States Navy during World War II and served on the U.S.S. Klondike. Shown are: R. L. Beeman, Henry Noggle, Mr. Dopson, Mr. Hilton, Mr. Wilkie, Claude Clanson, Eugene Keibler and Joe Gette.
A recovered Joe Gette at a military medical facility in California.
Phyllis Cole was an accomplished dancer.
In 1944, Joe met Phyllis Ruth Cole in San Bernardino, California, and they were married on February 11, 1945.
Joe Gette with his sister, Betty Gette Cline (now Smestad) at her home in Fort Worth. Their children, Marlene Gette, Gwendolyn Cline and Tim Gette are in the foreground.
Married on February 11, 1945, Joe and Phyllis had been married for 52 years when Phyllis died on March 26, 1997. Joe died a year later, on August 12, 1998. They are buried next to each other in Fairmount Cemetery in San Angelo, Texas, where they had lived for over 25 years.
In 1957, Joe was assigned to Chatearoux, France. We found a home in the small village of Ardente. A family friend is on the left and then Marlene, Phyllis and Tim.
Christmas 1960. Joe Gette, Andy Gette, Phylis Gette, Tim Gette and Marlene Gette.
In 1958, we travelled to Brussels for the World's Fair. Tim and Marlene stand beside an unknown child.
In a bright red Volkswagen beatle, the Gette family toured Europe from 1957-60 while living in France.
Joe Gette celebrated his last Christmas at the home of his daughter, Marlene Gette Kelly, in Woodbridge, Virginia.
Joe's strong and loving arms hold his two children, Tim and Marlene.
In Spain, while Tim and Marlene were in the pool, Joe was sharing a martini with Betty Hyman while Mr. Hyman looked on and Phyllis took the picture.
Joe holding his retirement papers from the U.S. Air Force.
Joe served on a train during the Korean Conflict where he was responsible for distributing clothing to U.S. military personnel in that country.
Joe graduated from Arlington Heights High School in Fort Worth, Texas where he was a member of the Junior ROTC.
Our home in Ardentes was shared by Mmme. Louise. Then in her 80's, this wonderful lady taught us about the beauty of France, its people and its food.
Throughout our travels in Europe during the late 50's, our fondest memory is of Phyllis in her pink hat. That hat was convenient for visiting the many churches and cathedrals and we always knew that it was our Mom.
The weather in France was chilly, so when we visited some friends living in Madrid, Spain, they put some water in their pool so Marlene and Tim could swim. We couldn't wait for the pool to fill...so we jumped in early!
In 1944, Joe met Phyllis Ruth Cole in San Bernardino, California, and they were married on February 11, 1945.
In Regensburg, Germany, Mrs. Elizabeth Dommermuth is pictured with Marlene, Phyllis (still wearing the pink hat) and Tim.
In 1960, Joe was transferred to Charleston AFB, South Carolina. It meant that we could visit our grandparents. Amos Cole is holding Andy, Eloise is to his left with Amisa and Anthony.
Joe Gette and his daughter, Marlene, at their home in Ampthill, England.
Tim with his Mom, Phyllis, and brother, Andy, on Tim's college graduation day from Angelo State College (now Angelo State University) in 1968, San Angelo, Texas.
Marlene and Tim holding their new brother, Andy, in Chatearoux, France.
Front: Barbara Dura, --, Betty Gette Cline, Gloria Hertsgaard, Art Dura. Back: Phyllis Gette, Joe Gette, Olaf Hertsgaard
Phyllis and Joe Gette celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary on February 11, 1995 with their three children: Tim, Marlene and Andy.
In 1943, Joe was on a ship in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii.
