Joe The Plumber dies after fighting pancreatic cancer.
Remembering Joe the Plumber: A Legacy Cut Short
Samuel Joseph Wurzelbacher, affectionately known as “Joe the Plumber,” has tragically passed away at the age of 49 after a courageous battle with pancreatic cancer, his family announced on Sunday.
In 2008, during the heated presidential campaign, then-candidate Barack Obama engaged in a memorable exchange with Joe. Obama’s comment, “When you spread the wealth around, it’s good for everybody,” sparked a national conversation and solidified the perception among many Americans that the Democratic Party was leaning towards socialism. Joe, in turn, became a prominent figure on the Right, with GOP candidate Sen. John McCain using the incident to highlight the differences between himself and his Democratic opponent.
Despite the unexpected fame, Joe found love and happiness. He married his wife Katie and together they raised three beautiful children. It was in July 2023 that Joe bravely announced his battle with cancer.
“Our hearts are broken. We lost a beloved husband, father, son, brother, and friend. He made an impact on so many lives,” Katie said in a statement given to Fox News.
Katie further shared, “I don’t think of him as losing his battle. Because he knew Jesus, his battle was won.” She added, “My heart goes out to everyone whose lives are impacted by cancer. There are so many ups and downs, but we tried to find joy in every day. He fought long and hard but is now free from pain.”
Reflecting on their love story, Katie fondly recalled, “When I met Joe, he was already known by everyone else as ‘Joe the Plumber,’ but he wrote something to me that stood out and showed me who he truly was: ‘just Joe.’ He was an average, honorable man trying to do great things for the country he loved so deeply after being thrust into the public eye for asking a question.”
Joe’s passing has deeply affected conservatives, who took to X — formerly known as Twitter — to pay tribute to the man.
Horrible news. My good friend Joe Wurzelbacher, aka Joe the Plumber, passed away this morning at the age of 49 from pancreatic cancer. He was a good man and an exceptional friend. Please consider helping his widow and young children here https://t.co/oFczc0urX2
— Derek Hunter (@derekahunter) August 27, 2023
Tom Fitton, president of Judicial Watch, expressed his condolences and highlighted Joe’s legal battle with Ohio state bureaucrats who violated his privacy after he dared to question Barack Obama.
RIP To Joe ”The Plumber” Wurzelbacher. Joe was @JudicialWatch legal client who the courts allowed Ohio state bureaucrats to abuse without consequence after they rifled through his gov’t files for his daring to ask a tough question of Barack Obama.
On Sunday, October 12, 2008,…
— Tom Fitton (@TomFitton) August 28, 2023
Ryan Girdusky, founder of the 1776 Project Pac, shared his sadness and fond memories of Joe, emphasizing his kindness and warmth.
This is sad. I met Joe back in 2009 in Missouri and he couldn’t have been a nicer guy.
My condolences to his family and loved ones.
https://t.co/j4ZmlLyA60— Ryan James Girdusky (@RyanGirdusky) August 28, 2023
A fundraiser has been set up to support Joe’s grieving family, and it has already garnered an overwhelming response, raising more than $147,000.
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