Walter Joe Maholick died April 7, 2016 at his home in Whittier. Joe was born September 8, 1950 in Whittier to Walter and Anna (Evanchik) Maholick. A native of Whittier, Joe graduated from Sierra High School in 1968 and attended Mt. Sac College until he was drafted into the military. He served in the Army's 82nd Airborne Division during the Vietnam era and joined the Navy Reserves after his Army service. Joe was married to Kathryn Robitaille, with whom he had his only child, Nicholas. In 2004, Joe remarried Suanne Oldenburg in Burden, Kansas.
Joe lived a very varied life. In high school he was a cross-country runner; the smallest, albeit fastest, runner on his team. He loved plants and animals and collected antiques, particularly wood stoves, with his wife Sue. At the beginning of his career he worked as a landscape gardener for many years before becoming an ironworker for high-rise buildings. His most recent and iconic job was that of a chimney sweep. He started his own business, Smokey Joe's Chimney Sweep, wearing his signature black top hat while maintaining his customers' chimneys. He was a member of the California Chimney Sweep Guild and a long-time member of the Whittier Chamber of Commerce. Joe owned and operated Smokey Joe's Chimney Sweep for 25 years.
Joe is survived by his son Nicholas and two stepsons, Greg and Alexander Robitaille.
Published by San Gabriel Valley Tribune on May 1, 2016.
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