Joseph "Joe" Tucker

Joseph Edward Tucker passed away at home in Princeton, Kansas, on July 2, 2026, at the age of 67. Born on November 14, 1958, in Ottawa, Kansas. He graduated from Ottawa High School with the class of 1976, and spent his life surrounded by the people and the community he helped build—literally.

Joe was happiest in a field, on the farm, at a construction site, or—of course—in his office in the shop. He took immense pride in every home he built and every project he left his mark on while owning Tucker Construction and beyond. Cutting corners wasn’t in his vocabulary, which is why he surrounded himself with lifelong friends who shared that same standard—framers, electricians, plumbers, concrete contractors, and anyone else who believed the job was worth doing right the first time and lived by his philosophy: work hard, play harder. Among his proudest accomplishments were building the family home in 1988, and their current home in 2023, that he and Linda shared in Princeton.

For more than forty years, Joe shared life with his beloved wife, Linda. Their marriage was proof that lasting love isn’t about perfection—it’s about showing up, working through the hard days, laughing through the good ones, and choosing each other every single time. Together they built a family grounded in tradition, loyalty, and unconditional love.

Nothing made Joe prouder than his children and grandchildren. He is survived by his children, Aaron (Lindsay) Nichols, Jessica (Brett) Callaghan, and Amanda (Drew) Brown; his grandchildren, Joella, Aliza, and Kianna Nichols, William and Grant Callaghan, Tucker and Rayah Brown; his brother Jay (Kim) Tucker; and nephew Corey (Hayley) Tucker. He was preceded in death by his parents, Harry “Milton” and Nathalee Tucker, who taught him the value of hard work, helping others, and never being afraid to get his hands dirty.

Some people love Christmas—Joe loved Black Friday. His annual Tucker Pheasant Hunt was his favorite holiday, and for the past 25 years, it brought together friends, family and neighbors for a tradition so many looked forward to each year. You could always hear Joe’s unmistakable laugh coming from the tower as people wrestled over the coveted ribbon bird. But what meant the most to him was watching his grandsons help throw the birds, knowing they were becoming a part of a tradition that meant so much to him. The day always ended with a cookout, a few rounds of trap shooting, and a “friendly” poker tournament that was never quite as friendly as advertised.

Joe lived life with his whole heart. He loved fiercely, worked tirelessly, and never believed one trip around the farm was enough. There was always one more drive to take, one more swing of the hammer, one more button unbuttoned, and—he always insisted—just one more round.

For the last several years, he battled rheumatoid arthritis. It was about the only thing stubborn enough to match him. Some days it won, and everyone around him knew it—especially if they happened to be within earshot of the grumbling and colorful commentary. Most days, though, Joe managed to keep moving. Fittingly, Joe spent his final day on a tractor, mowing and raking hay in the blazing sun—where he loved to be.

A Celebration of Life will be held on Saturday, July 11, 2026, at 5pm at the home of Joe and Linda. Family and friends are invited to join in sharing stories, laughter, and memories as we honor Joe’s life.

In lieu of flowers, donations made to Dengel & Son in Joe’s name will be divided between a scholarship for a local student pursuing a trade such as carpentry or construction, and a foundation supporting rheumatoid arthritis research and care.

Joe’s laugh had a way of finding you before he did—loud, unmistakable, and impossible not to join in. We’ll miss his stories, his stubbornness, his work ethic, and his ability to turn “one more drink” into an all-nighter. We won’t remember Joe because he was perfect—we’ll remember him because he was the one and only Joe Tucker.