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Obituary
Dr. Joseph Koke passed away on July 16, 2026 in Austin, Texas at the age of 83.
Born on June 2, 1943 in Oakland, California, Joe lived a life infused with curiosity and the search for answers. It shaped his love of education, his pursuit of scientific knowledge, and helped spark his drive to teach. He had a dry, intelligent wit while being a soft-hearted and generous soul on the inside.
Joe grew up in Eugene, Oregon and attended the University of Oregon where he met Judith (Judy) Koke (nee Eivers). They married in 1963, and after Joe earned his Master’s Degree in Biology, moved to Edmonton where he attained his PhD at the University of Alberta.
Joe’s loving marriage to Judy lasted 48 years until her death in 2011. Together, they raised three children. Joe was a caring and deeply involved father, whose passions and traditions greatly influenced his childrens’ lives. He was an avid reader of science fiction and fantasy, and his eldest son, Jak became a professional writer. He had a deep love of music that he shared with his children, prompting his son, Jeff, to become a musician. He loved tinkering with cars and passed that passion on to his daughter, Jacqueline, who later owned and operated a repair shop.
Joe coached his sons’ soccer teams, volunteered as a scoutmaster, and went camping and fly fishing with his daughter. He loved bicycle touring (making several cross-country treks), apple fritters, and appreciating the beauty of the natural world.
Joe taught biology at Texas State University in San Marcos for more than 40 years. He was a brilliant lecturer and dedicated researcher, who became a mentor to his students, taking them on cross-country trips to see national parks and visit cities to expand their knowledge of the world. Many of his graduate students stayed in close contact with him long after they earned their degrees.
Joe found love again a few years after Judy died. He remarried, this time to Carolyn Pesthy—a long-time friend and colleague. Carolyn and Joe even invited all their adult children to their honeymoon in Costa Rica, building bonds between their families. Even at this new stage of his life, he kept sharing his passion for learning and his boundless curiosity.
During the last four and half years, Joe struggled with vascular dementia which made it hard for him to maintain social connections and isolated him by eroding his ability to think clearly. But he still maintained his sardonic humor, and he was always happy to see his friends and family.
Joe is survived by his children, John (Jak) Koke and his wife Karawynn Long, Jeff Koke and his wife Barbara Clemenhagen, Jacqueline Clark and her husband William Clark, and his grandchildren Michaela Koke, Alexandra Loupe, Claire Koke, and Carson Koke.
He was preceded in death by his first wife, Judith Koke, and his second wife, Carolyn Pesthy.
A memorial to celebrate Joe’s life will take place on August 15th at 4:00 PM at Our Lady of Wisdom church (100 Concho Street in San Marcos, Texas). A reception will follow the mass.
There will also be an internment ceremony in Yachats, Oregon on May 22, 2027.
In lieu of flowers, we request memorial contributions be made in Joe’s memory to the Dementia Society of America.
Memorial Service Information
We would like to invite you to a memorial to celebrate the life of Dr. Joseph Koke. It will take place on August 15th at 4:00 PM at Our Lady of Wisdom church (100 Concho Street in San Marcos, Texas). A reception will follow the mass.
There will also be an internment ceremony on May 22, 2027 in Yachats, Oregon. See Internment Information for more details.
Announcement
It is with deep sadness that we tell you that Joe (Dr. Koke) has passed away. He was at peace, and his daughter Jacqueline was with him.
Joe was 83. He had a sharp, intelligent wit while being a soft-hearted and generous soul on the inside. He led a full life: embarking on several, thousand-mile-plus bicycle tours, teaching at least two generations of scientists and doctors, and being a deeply involved parent to three children who were independently minded and often as wry as he was. And much, much more.
For the past four and half years, he’d been struggling with vascular dementia which made it hard for him to maintain social connections and isolated him by eroding his ability to think clearly. Even so, he never lost his dry humor, and he was always happy to see his friends and family.
We will miss him terribly.