Joe Scholten
1956 - 2017
Joe Scholten, fourthgeneration San Franciscan and enthusiastic rail fan, died at age 60 May 28 at Kaiser Hospital South San Francisco.
Joe’s passion was trains. On an excursion to Oregon in 1981 to ride two narrowgauge steam trains, he fell in love with rail travel. He began collecting and reading hundreds of books on trains and railway history. He delighted in riding trains throughout the U.S. and Europe, and took multiple trips each winter on the Reno Fun Train. He joined the Northern California Railroad Club, planning group trips to favorite rail lines. He was also active in the Golden Gate Model Railroaders, collecting dozens of model engines and railcars.
Joseph Paul Scholten was born to Paul and Marion Scholten on August 15, 1956, arriving eight minutes ahead of his twin brother, Stephen. He grew up West of the Peaks in San Francisco’s West Portal neighborhood, playing with his five siblings on Granville Way. He was graduated from Abraham Lincoln High School in 1974. He attended San Francisco State College, earning in 1979 a B.A. in general management. Also in 1979, Joe obtained his real estate broker’s license, showing homes for Red Carpet Realty.
Following graduation, Joe started seven years of employment with Crocker Bank, holding a variety of administrative positions. In 1987, he began his career with the federal government, and for more than 25 years held positions with the Veterans Administration, the Naval Facilities Engineering Command, Defense Contract Management Command, and the Department of Homeland Security (TSA Oakland Airport).
Three years ago, Joe was diagnosed with blood cancer. A sweet-natured and modest man, Joe bore the medical indignities with equanimity and grace. He never complained about blood draws, bone marrow biopsies or hospital stays. Even if they had stuck him with a needle, he always said, “Thank you!” to the nurses.
Joe continued to enjoy life and his hobbies, visiting the Golden Spike National Historic Site in Utah and making a dreamed-of pilgrimage to the world’s largest railroad communication yard in North Platte, Nebraska. Through several rounds of chemotherapy, Joe never lost his appetite for a good meal, particularly if it was at Marcello’s, the Gold Mirror, Tommy’s Joynt or Harry’s Hofbrau. He actually gained weight while on chemo.
Always generous about sharing his books and toys, in 2016 Joe gave hundreds of train books to the Western Railway Museum in Suisun City, CA., and donated his model train collection, valued at $30,000, to the National Model Railroad Association in Soddy Daisy, Tennessee.
Joe is survived by his sisters Anne Scholten and Pauline Scholten (Rita Moran), his brothers John Scholten and Stephen Scholten, his aunts Dorothy Scholten, Helen Scholten, and Florence Brannon, his uncles Robert Scholten and James Marshall, as well as two nephews and many cousins. He was pre-deceased by his parents, Dr. Paul and Marion Scholten, and his sister, Catherine. A funeral service will be held on Monday, June 5, at 10 a.m., in Our Lady’s Chapel at St. Cecilia Catholic Church, 2555 17th Avenue, San Francisco.