Joe Aldape

Joe passed away quietly, of natural causes, in his home in Boise, Idaho on December 30, 2015.

Joe was born November 2, 1959 to Joe and Flora Aldape, and was the youngest of 3 children. Joe grew up in his family home on Shaw Mountain Road, where he was raised by Joe and Flora, until he lost his father at the age of 14. He played on the mountain, learning to work hard and developed his passion for the outdoors and land use from his father. Joe graduated from Boise High in 1978, and he then attended the University of Idaho, where he became a member of the Delta Tau Delta fraternity and created lifelong friendships. He then moved back to Boise, where he met his wife Katherine Harris in 1984 and then married her on November 7, 1986 in Las Vegas. They had two children, Matthew and Megan.

Joe told many stories about growing up on the mountain spending time with his dad at the Basque sheep herding camps, where he was chased by the dogs around their wagons while the herders watched in amusement. He would later join the Oinkari Basque dancers where he got to travel to many locations and dance in front of many crowds.

Joe loved people, never knew a stranger and always strived to be the best “social butterfly” he could be. Everyone who met Joe loved and respected him for his generosity, kindness, selflessness, and fun loving nature. It was because of his “social butterfly” like nature that he met Kathy Harris. Joe and Kathy were married for 29 amazing years that took them to many different places. After marrying they moved from Arizona to Washington and then finally back home to Boise, Idaho to raise their children to be around the large Basque family and community.

Joe’s true satisfaction in life was knowing that he and Kathy raised two wonderful, loving and caring children who they loved with the same passion that he had for everything else in life. His family would grow in 2013 when Matthew married Kathryn Rice, and Megan met Brittany Davis and her daughters Camry, and Cierra.

Joe was raised by his father and mother to have a very strong work ethic throughout his life. From working at Boise Hardwood, Horizon Airlines, and finally opening his own company the Car Dr. It was through him being the Car Dr. that he formed relationships with car dealerships, people, and friends by making their cars become beautiful once again. 

Joe joined Idaho Off Road 4x4 club in 1994 driving his beloved 1977 Jeep CJ7 “Old Blue”. He came into a club that was in a state of disarray and made it whole again by serving as a member of the board for 4 years bringing structure and comradery to the club. The club became his second family, where he made countless friends, mentored many new members, and enjoyed his passion of off-roading with friends and family. He was also a voice of the off road community by becoming a founding member of the Idaho State 4x4 Association and the Idaho Recreation Council where he was treasurer for 2 years.

Joe was an adventurous man who wanted to make sure that his family got to enjoy the outdoors like he did. He and his family traveled to many locations like California, Utah, Washington, Oregon, and Yellowstone, or “Jellystone” as he coined it, where they would camp and jeep throughout the states. It was through this that he created the family tradition of giving Indian names to family members and friends that were in attendance.

Joe’s kind hearted and passionate nature shined through in every aspect of his life from family, friends, politics, religion, football, and of course Jeeping. These qualities will be greatly missed in our daily lives and future endeavors. He was the embodiment of a true Basque man displaying the Basque flag on his Jeep in every outing.

Joe is survived by his beloved wife Kathy; daughter, Megan (Brittany and daughters Camry and Cierra); son, Matthew (Kathryn); brother, Phil Aldape (Linda); sister, Jeannie Eiguren (Dave); father and mother-in-law, Dave and Nancy Harris who Joe called mom and dad; sister-in-law, Jennifer Klosterman (Kathy’s Sister); and was an uncle to Tony and Andy Eiguren, Jeff Aldape, Debbie Rodriguez, and Macy and Kellen Klosterman along with numerous cousins. He was preceded in death by his father Joe and mother Flora Aldape.

A vigil service will be held at 7:00 pm Tuesday, January 5, 2016 at Summers Funeral Homes, Boise Chapel, with a viewing beginning at 5:00 pm. Funeral Mass will be celebrated at 10:00 am, Wednesday, January 6, 2016 at St. John’s Cathedral, with burial concluding at Dry Creek Cemetery. A celebration of life luncheon will follow at the Basque Center, Boise.