Joseph Dennis Dwyer
June 15, 1943 - November 11, 2024
Joe Dwyer was born in Black River Falls, WI, June 15, 1943 to Vincent Joseph Dwyer and Esther Mary Dwyer nee Sichler.
The youngest of four children, Joe grew up often hunting with his dog before school and then leaving his catch with his mom. He enjoyed an active social life and had many friends all through school. Joe loved deer hunting and bird hunting as well as fishing during his years growing up.
As an adult, Joe would go hunting and trout fishing in Montana many times during the years that he and Sharan lived and worked there as a young couple. After their move to Alaska, Joe preferred halibut fishing in Kachemak Bay and dipnetting the Kenai River.
As a young man, Joe worked for the local grocer as a butcher. He also helped out with the family butchering. This would be a lifelong hobby of Joe’s: to get to know the local butcher, carefully select the cuts he wanted and then age the meat himself to a perfect tenderness. His family always looked forward to steaks- often preferring them to anything they could get at a restaurant.
Upon graduating high school, Joe married his high school sweetheart, Sharan Jeannine Green, who would share the next 63 years of their well-traveled life together. They left Wisconsin in 1961 to live in Montana where their first 4 children were born. They were in the lumber business until 1970 at which time they moved to Wyoming to work the oil patch. Working together, Joe drove water trucks and picked up odd jobs building his knowledge base around that industry; while Sharan raised their children. Eventually, they were able to save up enough money to move to Alaska in 1975 achieving a longtime dream.
After they drove up the Alcan, they waited for housing to open up in Anchorage by living in Centennial Campground for a summer. By the end of the summer, Joe had gotten a job working for Alyeska Service Company. The family would eventually settle on the Kenai Peninsula where they welcomed their fifth child, a girl. Joe would stay with the pipeline company, rising through the ranks to supervisor- overseeing several pump stations over the 27 years that he was under their employ. After retiring, they talked him into coming back to do contract work for the next several years.
In 2017, Joe retired from work outside the home for good. He and Sharan began their much anticipated travel around the country, often staying at their park in Arizona in the winter between forays to various states to see places old and new, family and friends. In the summer, they loved spending time back in Alaska with family and enjoying more time with friends.
Joe is survived by his wife Sharan, their five children and many grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
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Joe Dwyer Services Saturday June 27, 2026
Vigil/Funeral: St. John the Baptist Catholic Church, 255 Ohlson Lane, Homer, AK 99603 - 10am/11am
Interment: Hickerson Community Cemetery, 66928 Diamond Ridge Road, Homer, AK 99603 - 12:30-1pm
Reception: Land's End Resort 4786 Homer Spit Road, Homer, AK 99603-8001 - 1:30pm
Greg Kinney
Joe was a friend as well as a mentor, and he was one of the best bosses I ever had. He was a raconteur who had a lot of stories, and he could sure tell them. The last time I saw him, probably about 10 years back, he was at one of our project meetings as a "retread" construction manager and he had the whole room, mostly newer people who never worked with him, wrapped around his finger. And yes he could be blunt, but always fair. I'll never forget the time sitting in his office at Pump Station 1, when he was Regional Maintenance Supervisor in the Northern Business Unit days. He was on the phone for quite a while with a senior manager, saying "uh huh" again and again while listening to him talk. Finally, it was his turn to talk and he said: "Now just because I've been telling you uh-huh doesn't mean I agree with you, I just mean I understand what you're trying to say. But we tried that before and here's what happened when we did." And with that, he headed off another wrong turn that we would have otherwise taken. I miss Joe and I'm sure that everyone who knew him felt the same.
Gary Dillon
I don't have the workds to say what Joe (papa) means to me. Here is something I read that comes close. "When we trully love someone, our gretest fear is that the loved one will stop loving us. What we should fear and dreat, of course, is that we won't stop loving them, even after they;er dead and gone. The love I have and can't give you crushes the breath from my chest. " You are one of a kind my dear friend. Dillon
Cathy Girard
Ugh...where to start. Joe broke the mold. Joe was the dad, grandfather, boss, co-worker, and friend who would kick your ass because he knew you could and should do better. His way of approaching me and others earned our immense respect. If you wanted truth, resilience, inspiration, guidance, wisdom, a hug or a party, you could trust Joe to deliver. The consummate professional, I rarely saw him out of his hardhat which he wore through the chow line and all the way to his PLQ room. When I think of the 8 Mindsets that Alyeska is currently using as a roadmap, Joe lived all 8 on a daily basis. He owned his role and he expected all of us to own ours too. So much of the field culture that thrives today was built by Joe's commitment to Alyeska, Alaska, and our people. Godspeed to you, Joe. Thank you for being a mentor, role model, and anchor. It's no surprise that you passed on Veteran's Day - I will never forget you.
Keith Burke
Joe was truly one of a kind. No matter where came in contact with him he always had a Great Smile and friendly greeting. A real people person and role model in life and work. We will all miss you Joe and heaven isbetter off with you there. Bless you Joe!
Larry Wood
I quickly join in these accolades concerning Joe: so very well said. Joe was always very kind, helpful, and upbeat. He worked with a quiet, strong confidence and took a genuine interest in each of us. One of those people who you could immediately trust. Solid, capable and inspiring too. Our prayers for his family as we remember Joe with a big smile and heartfelt "very well done."
Toni Curry
To this day, Joe Dwyer is one of the best supervisors I ever had. He called himself "an old cat-skinner," but he was so much more than that. He was intelligent, kind, funny, and a truly good person. May his memory be a blessing.
Martha Preus
So sorry to see Joe passed. He brightened everyday with his presence. It is no surprise to see the nice picture of him with his smile. He was always helpful, kind, calm and had plenty of stories. My sincere condolences to his wife and family. Rip Joe!
Mark Welker
It was always a pleasure to manage projects when Joe represented operations. He was one of the good guys and great fun to be around.
Joe Riordan
I'm so sorry to hear of Joe's passing..... Oh goodness, where do I start about my good friend Joe Dwyer that hasn't already been said. I will always remember the twinkle in his eye when he spoke to you as if he knew something that you didn't but didn't want to burst my bubble. So many stories and so little time to write them all. Godspeed my friend.
Martin Weinrick
I first met Joe as an entry level Operations Technician at Pump Station 4, in 1979; he was my shift supervisor. Anytime he would catch more than a couple of us technicians hanging around the break room, he would glare for a moment and then brusquely inquire "who's watching the station?" We would all immediately skitter towards the nearest exits and find something to do. One Christmas my shift was scheduled to be on station and as you can imagine turnover that morning was pretty glum. I was able to procure a blindingly bright pink T-shirt emblazoned with "WHO'S WATCHING THE STATION?" across the chest. Everyone got a good laugh and I swear Joe got a little choked up. Many years later, Joe was a Contract Project Manager at Pump Station 1; I was Operations Lead Tech and after catching up with Joe, I inquired about the pink T-shirt... he said he still had it in his dresser drawer, but swore it no longer fit.