Joe called me yesterday and asked to me post about what is going on.
If you haven't heard, he has been diagnosed with Pancreatic cancer.
Talk about a rock. Guy survives his heart attack, then loses his wife, and now this? It's incredible to me how strong he is...I mean, can you imagine?
They have given him a pain blocker that he says is working well, though he has trouble eating. He had a port installed for chemo.
He is in incredibly good spirits, even though he admitted to me he's tired, he wants to finish the race shining the Light of the Lord to others. He's at peace and I'm proud of how he has handled ALL of this with so much grace.
Please pray for mercy if you would be so kind. He didn't ask me to start this thread so people could feel sorry for him, he asked me because he wanted you all to know that the headstone finally was set in place, he just wasn't up to doing it ( in hospital today), and I don't blame him.
I'd like to thank everyone who donated to this cause. Joe is a special guy a and all those bashes made more than good times, they made lifelong friends. I'll forever be grateful to have known him & Kathy.
Be good to those you love.
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MOD EDIT: Here's a little more detail on Joe's new work:
Originally Posted by Nzoner:
God granted me seeing my 60th birthday yesterday and hopefully I'll have the opportunity to see some of you yet.
I also want to tell a little more about our new ministry and will do so.
Originally Posted by cmh6476:
On March 12, 2023, Joey (Jammin’ Joe) Dale Tracy of Saint Joseph, MO passed away at the age of 60 in his home, surrounded by family.
Joe was born on December 26, 1962, in St. Joseph, MO to Larry and Sondra (Clark) Tracy. He graduated from Benton High School in 1981. On November 29, 1985, while working together at the Thrifty Nickel, he married Kathy Beth Russell. Joe and Kathy went on to own and operate the St. Joseph AD-Venture direct mail publication for 26 years and Pyro Joe’s Fireworks for 12 years.
Joe rededicated his life to his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ in 2019. He and Kathy had daily prayer and bible study together.
Joe was passionate about many things in life – Jesus Christ, Music, Football, Fireworks, and good food. Many knew him as “Jammin’ Joe,” “NZoner” from ChiefsPlanet.com, or “Pyro Joe.”
Joe was preceded in death by his mother, Sondra, and wife, Kathy. He is survived by his father Larry, stepmother Patty, brother Kevin (Theresa), nephews Brad and Ian, nieces Shannon and Alyssa, several cousins, and two fur-babies Oscar & Sadie.
Farewell Services & Public Livestream will be held on Thursday, March 16th at 1:00 pm at the Grace Calvary Chapel – 5103 S. 50th St., St. Joseph, MO. Interment Mount Auburn Cemetery. The family will gather with friends 6:00 to 8:00 P.M. Wednesday, Meierhoffer Funeral Home & Crematory. In lieu of flowers, Joe requests donations to his recently established foundation L.O.S.S. (Loss of Spouse Sanctuary). The sanctuary will assist other widows and widowers along their grief journey. More information about L.O.S.S. can be found at LossOfSpouse.org. Donations may be made via the website. Online guest book and obituary at www.meierhoffer.com.
I've had a browser window open for the last 24 hours or so, and just haven't been able to put my thoughts together. I'll do my best.
I believe 100% in my heart that Joe is the reason why CP is so important to so many of us. It was Joe who played a big role in me meeting so many lifetime friends - opening his home to 10, 20 sometimes 50+ internet friends, some he knew, I'm betting a lot he didn't. Didn't matter, because to Joe - CP was family. All were welcome, the more the merrier.
His bashes were EPIC. Great music. Great people. Crystal plungers. Sharpie dicks to those who crashed early. Bonfires. Chargers hats in said bonfire.
Love. There was always a lot of love in the room.
Because, Chiefs.
If you loved the Chiefs, more than likely, Joe loved you. And would do anything for you. He's a one-of-one who I am grateful to had the opportunity to meet and spend time with. While taken FAR too young, I take solace in the fact he's no longer suffering, and is reunited with the love of his life Kathy. I guarantee she had the NASCAR Room up and running in heaven.
Thank you Joe, for everything. Without you, it's unlikely I meet 100+ people here who I still call a friend to this day. Way too many to mention, you all know who you are.
I love you fuckers.
RIP Joe. You'll be missed, but certainly never forgotten. [Reply]
Originally Posted by OnTheWarpath15:
I've had a browser window open for the last 24 hours or so, and just haven't been able to put my thoughts together. I'll do my best.
I believe 100% in my heart that Joe is the reason why CP is so important to so many of us. It was Joe who played a big role in me meeting so many lifetime friends - opening his home to 10, 20 sometimes 50+ internet friends, some he knew, I'm betting a lot he didn't. Didn't matter, because to Joe - CP was family. All were welcome, the more the merrier.
His bashes were EPIC. Great music. Great people. Crystal plungers. Sharpie dicks to those who crashed early. Bonfires. Chargers hats in said bonfire.
Love. There was always a lot of love in the room.
Because, Chiefs.
If you loved the Chiefs, more than likely, Joe loved you. And would do anything for you. He's a one-of-one who I am grateful to had the opportunity to meet and spend time with. While taken FAR too young, I take solace in the fact he's no longer suffering, and is reunited with the love of his life Kathy. I guarantee she had the NASCAR Room up and running in heaven.
Thank you Joe, for everything. Without you, it's unlikely I meet 100+ people here who I still call a friend to this day. Way too many to mention, you all know who you are.
I love you ****ers.
RIP Joe. You'll be missed, but certainly never forgotten.
Dammit, first Stevie then you. Beautiful tribute. :-) [Reply]
I'm very thankful to have been able to meet Joe and Kathy. I'm glad that I was able to make it to one of the bashes. My wife couldn't believe that I was going to drive 3.5 hours to party all night with people that I've never met "in real life". I mean it's crazy enough to travel and meet with people you don't know, but to host them.....That's another level of crazy, lol. Joe had a place at Grand Lake and a couple of times I was able to meet up with them while they were down here at the casino in Joplin. Like someone else had mentioned, I was also privileged with a couple of CD's that he sent me in the mail when I mentioned that I hadn't ever heard of Porcupine Tree. What special giving people they were and they will be missed. RIP. [Reply]
One thing about Joe: he loved food! One of his favorites was a cheeseburger pickle pizza. I couldn’t quite muster the enthusiasm he had for it, but appreciated the uniqueness of it.
You guys have given a great portrait of the man Joe was. We are all better off for having known him and will keep him forever close in our hearts.
I’m putting together a compilation of thoughts from the Planet to be read at the funeral. If you would like yours included, please pm me.
Thanks. [Reply]
There's another online community that I think only Joe and I belonged to (same handles here and at fftoday), which was kind of weird because he and I are both from stj (he graduated with my uncle at benton and we would hang on occasion with local mutual friends), and to me it feels like stj is under represented on this forum.
Only saying this because I saw porcupine tree mentioned and I know he talked to guys from the fftoday site about the same band.
But his online influence and respect from other posters included fftoday as well.
Originally Posted by Rukdafaidas:
I'm very thankful to have been able to meet Joe and Kathy. I'm glad that I was able to make it to one of the bashes. My wife couldn't believe that I was going to drive 3.5 hours to party all night with people that I've never met "in real life". I mean it's crazy enough to travel and meet with people you don't know, but to host them.....That's another level of crazy, lol. Joe had a place at Grand Lake and a couple of times I was able to meet up with them while they were down here at the casino in Joplin. Like someone else had mentioned, I was also privileged with a couple of CD's that he sent me in the mail when I mentioned that I hadn't ever heard of Porcupine Tree. What special giving people they were and they will be missed. RIP.
I had forgotten that Joe sent me a few CDs as well. One of them was Alice Cooper's Welcome 2 My Nightmare. One of the songs on it led me to accept Jesus as my Savior. I'm not sure I ever told Joe that. I'm sure he would have liked that.
Check out the lyrics.
I Am Made of You
I was just a shadow
In the beginning
I was alone
In the beginning, I was blind
Living in a world devoid of light
In the beginning
There was only night
I was shattered
Left in pieces
And I felt so cold inside
Then I called you
From the darkness
Where I hide
I am made of you
I am made of you
I am made of you
I am made of you
In the beginning
You were evolution
A river of salvation
And now I believe
All I wanted
All I needed
Was someone to rescue me
I was drownin'
I was dying
Now I'm free
I am made of you
I am made of you
I am made of you
I am made of you
Here I am now
I can stand now
'Cause your love has made me strong
And forever
You're the singer
I'm the song
I am made of you
I am made of you
I am made of you
I am made of you
I am made of you
I am made of you
I am made of you
I am made of you [Reply]
I was just talking to my wife about Joe. I never met him I didn't attend a bash but I did get inspired by the Game room. Right after the first bash there were pictures of the bash and I was in a remodel. I changed up the direction we went just to emulate the game room in a way. I wish I wasn't half the way across the country. I wish I had made it to a bash.
I have a real appreciation for a man of faith. It is way harder to have faith than to dismiss a higher power. God speed Joe and Kathy you are missed. [Reply]
Count me amongst the cd beneficiaries. Twenty some years ago I decided to really start exploring the blues and when mentioning it Joe took the opportunity to express his love for the blues influenced ZZ Top. He ended up burning me not one, but two cds of their music, ranging from songs I knew to a whole lot of deeper cuts that you’ll never hear on the radio.
And while no cds were involved for this artist, the game room is where I was introduced to Joe Bonamassa’s bluesy rock.
My playlist for tomorrow is starting to take shape… [Reply]
So sorry to read this. I never got the chance to meet Joe in person (we were supposed to meet up in Vegas back in the late 2000s but my flight got in late), but he was a true pioneer of this site and spreading just genuine friendship to everyone who registered here and generosity with his legendary bashes. He was always so kind to me in our interactions and that's how I'll remember him.
This place has been running strong for over 20 plus years because of genuine people like Joe in an age where internet message boards have declined.
60 is far too young, but he made an incredible mark on this world. RIP Joe and Kathy. [Reply]
I woke up this morning feeling a bit rough. Wandered around the house a bit trying to do my normal morning routine. Every morning after I get stuff done I sit and read CP for a bit.
I tried to avoid reading this morning because it's a surreal kick to the nuts when I see this thread. I read a bit and started to tear up over a man I've never met.
I will not cry for Joe anymore....even though I never met him I'm sure he would agree. He seems like the guy who would say "knock it off". Mr. Nzoner made it home to his wife. Crying because we lost him is selfish on our part.
Joe isn't in pain, he's with his wife, and he's still laughing at our dumb asses. Death sucks ass for the living but I'm sure it was a hell of a day for him. Joe is home....I'm happy for that.
This board amazes me every day. The tributes and kind words about a man on the internet are inspiring.