Samuel Joseph Wurzelbacher, a small businessman who became widely known as “Joe the Plumber” after confronting then-Democratic Sen. Barack Obama on the 2008 presidential campaign trail, has died, reports said on Monday. He was 49.
His wife, Katie Wurzelbacher, confirmed her husband’s death Monday in an email to Fox News Digital.
“Our hearts are broken. We lost a beloved husband, father, son, brother and friend. He made an impact on so many lives,” she wrote.
“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,’” she added. “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 announced in July that he had been diagnosed with an aggressive form of pancreatic cancer.
“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,” Katie Wurzelbacher wrote in her Monday statement. “I don’t think of him as losing his battle. Because he knew Jesus, his battle was won.”
“Joe’s last wish was to get us back by my family. The first night here, he gave me a big smile and said ‘we made it,’” she said. “To everyone who has and continues to support us, and there are so many, Thank You! You helped bring Joe peace and for that I will always be grateful.”
Fox News Digital added:
A fundraiser set up months ago on the Christian crowdfunding site GiveSendGo to support Wurzelbacher’s family amid his battle with cancer raised $135,234 as of Monday.
Joe Wurzelbacher, the owner of a plumbing business at the time, rose to national acclaim when he confronted Obama at a 2008 campaign event in Toledo, Ohio, accusing the Democrat presidential candidate’s tax plan of conflicting with the American dream. Obama countered that the plan would help small businesses grow more quickly.
Obama was not right, however.
During his White House campaign, the late U.S. senator from Arizona and Republican presidential nominee, John McCain, made mention of “Joe The Plumber.” Subsequently, McCain invited Wurzelbacher to accompany him on the campaign trail.
“Wurzelbacher’s name was reportedly mentioned more than a dozen times during the Oct. 15, 2008, presidential debate between Obama and McCain. Wurzelbacher went on to run an unsuccessful bid against Democrat Rep. Marcy Kaptur for Ohio’s 9th Congressional District seat in 2012. He is survived by his wife and children,” Fox News added.
