Kaffeeklatsch regular, supplier of toys passes away

Update: Joseph's Shoreline neighbors and the staff at Kaffeeklatsch are planning a memorial for Joseph on Sunday, April 29th, at Kaffeeklatsch, 12513 Lake City Way NE. The memorial will be at 3 p.m. All are welcome.

Joseph Patrykus, photographed in his seat at Kaffeeklatsch recently.

The King County Medical Examiner has confirmed what was written on a few Facebook pages over the last few days. Kaffeeklatch regular Joseph Patrykus, 69, died of natural causes on April 21st. He was found sitting on a chair, in the sun, on the porch of his Shoreline home.

Joseph, a former member of the U.S. Navy and a Boeing worker that was on the crew that built the first 747, was a regular at the coffee shop. When he wasn't sitting at his table, sipping drip coffee from his 40 year-old personalized mug he kept at the local business, he could be found across the street at Value Village, sifting for treasures.

Some of the toys brought to Kaffeklatsch by Joseph

"He provided about 2/3 of the toys here," said Kaffeeklatsch co-owner Annette Heide-Jessen.

Joseph, who mostly kept to himself while sitting at his regular seat, would light up when talking to parents and their children. "He was quiet but thoughful," said Heide-Jessen.

Some children that regularly saw Joseph at the coffee shop were convinced he might be Santa Clause, a perception reinforced by all the toys he would bring from Value Village.

Friends of Joseph recently set up a Facebook fan page for him. There he would share quotes while spending time at Kaffeeklatsch.

He knew his health was poor but was trying his best to enjoy the life he had.

His niece Jodi Patrykus, who said she was named after him, wrote recently that she was "happy to see him in the virtual world having a good time. He is very special to me!"


In one recent post on his Facebook page Joseph said, "leaving, soon possibly even the planet!"

One of Joesph's favorite books kept at Kaffeeklatsch