LAKE COUNTY – The first time Chrissie Ebert saw Joe Smigel, he was prone on the front lawn of the Blue Lakes Lodge in the midst of a flock of about 50 ducks. He was nose to beak with them, quacking away. It was the beginning of eight years of love that would end at the nearby octagonal gazebo at Pine Acres Resort, at the celebration of his life.

The April 21 gathering broke the funeral meats, traded Joe stories, and looked at the poster board shrine of photos commemorating an extraordinary ordinary man.

In one photo, Joe's head was poking out of the engine bay of a car like a prairie dog from its hole. Others showed the restored cars that were the fruit of his skill and sweat. A couple even dated back to Joe's service in the 101st Airborne Division in Vietnam.

The Joe stories were comic ones, befitting a man who loved blue collar comedians like Jeff Foxworthy and Larry the Cable Guy.

There was the time he turned a car in a tight circle in an even tighter parking situation. He managed to hit a washing machine and three cars – one of them twice.

There was Joe, the deer hunter who could see deer all day when his hunting partner never saw a creature.

There was Joe, the four by four king, who could stick a truck on a side hill, get out to appraise the situation, and find that his truck was so tilted he couldn't climb back in except by crawling down the truck bed.

They were all unlikely funny stories for a man from such sad beginnings.

He was born April 15, 1950, in Delaware, and orphaned while still a child.

He was passed around among kinfolk during his youth. His aunt moved to California, taking him along. While in high school, he nurtured dreams of playing professional baseball.

He graduated from Colfax High School, and received his draft notice one week later. As happened to draftees in those days, he was sent to Vietnam. He was wounded there and was awarded the Purple Heart.

After his discharge, he mastered the body and fender mechanic's trade and worked at it in Sacramento and Ukiah before coming to Lake County. The dust and fumes of the trade undermined his health and forced him into premature retirement and his role as neighborhood character.

His final fate overtook him while he was under treatment at the VA Hospital at Fort Miley, San Francisco. He was interred with honors at the new National Cemetery at Dixon.

There were no sad faces at the celebration of his life. It was a fitting end to the man who could walk into a group of glum people and jolt them out of their mopes with his favorite phrase about life – "Ah, it's all just a walk in the park."

E-mail George Dorner at This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it .

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COLUMBIA, S.C. – Army Pvt. Joseph B. Henry has graduated from basic combat training at Fort Jackson, Columbia, S.C.

During the nine weeks of training, the soldier studied the Army mission, history, tradition and core values, physical fitness, and received instruction and practice in basic combat skills, military weapons, chemical warfare and bayonet training, drill and ceremony, marching, rifle marksmanship, armed and unarmed combat, map reading, field tactics, military courtesy, military justice system, basic first aid, foot marches, and field training exercises.

Henry is the son of Glenn W. Henry of Upper Lake and Debby A. Kubas of Nice.

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Airman Christopher Rice. Courtesy photo.

SAN ANTONIO – Air Force Airman Christopher L. Rice has graduated from basic military training at Lackland Air Force Base, San Antonio, Texas.

During the six weeks of training, the airman studied the Air Force mission, organization, and military customs and courtesies; performed drill and ceremony marches, and received physical training, rifle marksmanship, field training exercises, and special training in human relations.

In addition, airmen who complete basic training earn credits toward an associate degree through the Community College of the Air Force.

He is the son of Karen Samples of Kelseyville, and the grandson of Doyn Bell of Rio Linda.

Rice is a 2000 graduate of Kelseyville High School.

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