Joseph W. Dahlby, 74, passed away, due to multiple myeloma, at his residence on Thursday, July 31, 2008, surrounded by his family. He was born in Black River Falls on February 1, 1934 the son of the late Clifford and Wilma (nee: Hoeft) Dahlby. Joe served his country with the U.S. Air Force from 1951 until 1958. On December 27, 1958 he was united in marriage to the former Nona Humble in St. John's Lutheran Church in Sparta. He received his degree from the University of Wisconsin- LaCrosse and his Masters from University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. Joe taught 6th Grade in the Racine Unified School District for over 35 years. He taught at Winslow, Franklin, Olympia-Brown, and Starbuck schools. He developed the Creative Writing Program for the District. Joe was a member of Atonement Lutheran Church, the Racine Dairystatesmen, and the Church Singers. Joe loved baking and cooking. He provided both the REST and HALO programs with his home cooked meals. He baked bread and sold it as Joe's Dough's for the Relay for Life.. Joe was very involved with the American Cancer Society's Relay for Life. In 1999 Joe was honored as The Man of the Year by the V.F.W. He also enjoyed traveling, woodworking; making candlesticks, doll furniture, assorted carvings, painting murals, singing and napping. His favorite hobby was being involved with his grandchildren. Surviving are his wife devoted wife of nearly 50 years, Nona; their children, Brenda (David) Olmstead, Jane (Donald) Christensen, Katrina (Michael) Koester all of Franksville, Kurt (Gina) Dahlby of Mansfield, OH; son-in-law David Simington of Racine; 13 grandchildren, Jacqueline (Patrick) Pingel, Jacob (fiancée Stephanie Cully) Olmstead, Melisa,Kaylie Ben, and Heidi Christensen, Emily, and Tate Koester, Hans and Erika Dahlby, Gabrielle Hirth, David and Earl Simington; 2 great-grandchildren Katherine and Lillian Pingel, brothers and sisters; Roger (Bev) Dahlby of Whitehall, WI, Larry (Linda) Dahlby of Sparta, Rosemary (Richard) Davis of Delavan, David (Daeng) Dahlby of Maui, Joyce (Walt) Sanders of Sparta, Paul Dahlby of La Crosse, Fred (Diane) Dahlby and Mary Kay Spicci all of Sparta; brother-in-law and sisters-in-law Richard (Diane) Humble of Lillian, FL, and Jackie Dahlby of Indianapolis, IN. His nieces, nephews, cousins, other relatives and many dear friends also survive Joe. In addition to his parents Joe was preceded in death by his daughter Teresa Simington, brothers David and John Dahlby, brother-in-law and sisters-in-law Shirley and Bob Sorenson. His funeral service will be held on Monday, August 4th at 11:00 a.m. in Atonement Lutheran Church, 2915 Wright Ave., with Revs. Dr. Warren D. Williams and Rev. Denise Mbsie officiating. Visitation will be in the funeral home on Sunday, August 3rd from 3:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. and in the church on Monday, from 10:00 a.m. until the time of the service. Burial, with full military honors, will be in West Lawn Memorial Park. The family has suggested memorials to either Atonement Lutheran Church or the American Cancer Society's Relay for Life-Guardian Angels. The family would like to publicly thank Dr. Marcelo Pasquini and his staff as well as the entire nursing staff of 4C at the Zablocki V.A. Medical Center for the extraordinary care, love and dignity given Joe and his family.