Joseph John Dabelko

Our Loving Husband, Father, Grandfather, Uncle and Friend Joseph John Dabelko passed into the loving care of his Heavenly Father, Wednesday May 10, 2023.

Born April 21, 1956 to Frank and Margaret Dabelko in Smithtown, New York, Joe was born a collector. Early in life he and his friends would collect milk cartons they could turn in for tickets to see the New York Mets. As he grew, he added stories to his collection. He loved to learn about history and American Civil War stories and history quickly joined his collection as he read and studied. Joe moved around living in various places around New York and Colorado. Eventually, work took him to Ogden UT where his life would forever change. He walked into a local bank and was immediately smitten by the teller Susie McMullin. He learned her name and the next day sent her flowers and an invitation for their first date. He and Susie were married September 27, 1985 in Richmond, UT. As he courted Susie, he was also meeting with missionaries from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. April 21, 1985 he was baptized a member. A year following his Baptism he and Susie were sealed together for time and all eternity in the Ogden Utah Temple.

Rocks were another of Joe’s collection. At just five years old he found his first fossil. That discovery opened a lifelong joy in searching for rocks and fossils, he wanted to know the history of everything he found, he spent hours at a time pouring through books, articles, talking to his friends and associates in the many Fossil and Geology groups to which he belonged. He would study and plan field trips across the western United States for members of the Western Interior Paleontological Society (WIPS).

Joe collected good deeds. Throughout his life, he sought opportunities to help others, from work with the Boy Scouts of America as a Cubmaster, helping teach young boys to grow and become great men. He worked with many school groups, WIPS PaleoZone, bringing Paleontology exhibits to schools and other community events. He donated many fossils from his personal collections to help the Discovery Gateway Childrens Museum in Salt Lake City, UT get their I Dig Dino’s exhibit up and running, a legacy to Joe’s kindness. Joe loved Genealogy, but more than collecting names of generations past, he wanted to collect their lives their stories. Often as he would talk about his work in genealogy, he would talk about the stories these people left, their struggles in war torn Europe, or the sacrifices made to get to the United States.

The collection Joe cherished the most was his family. Joe loved his family more than anything else, everything he did, every choice he made was centered on what would be best for his Wife, and his family. We were never unsure of his feelings towards us, He loved us and continues to love us.

Joe is survived by His Loving Wife of 37 years Susie McMulliln Dabelko, his children Elizabeth Dabelko, Joseph F Dabelko, Rebecca (Eric) Pratt, and Sarah (Ian) Karlinsey. And his siblings Steven (Brenda) Dabelko and Lydia Dabelko.

Joe was preceded in death by his parents, Frank Dabelko and Margaret Seebach Dabelko.

The family would like to offer sincere thanks to everyone whose kindness, warm thoughts and prayers have helped to ease our burden. Thank you!

Funeral services will be held Friday May 19, 2023 at 11:00 a.m. at the  Windsor Meadows 2^nd Ward 315  Chelemes Way, Clearfield, Utah. Friends may visit with family Thursday,  May 18, 2023 from 6:00 to 8:00 at Lindquist's Layton Mortuary, 1867 No. Fairfield Road, Layton and

 Friday from  9:30 to 10:45 a.m. at the church.