Samuel Joseph Wurzelbacher, the man who became known as “Joe the Plumber” during the 2008 presidential campaign, has died after a battle with pancreatic cancer at the age of 49, his family announced Sunday.
In 2008, then-candidate Barack Obama infamously told “Joe the Plumber” that he believed, “When you spread the wealth around, it’s good for everybody.” That interaction cemented in many Americans’ minds that Obama and the Democratic Party were quickly becoming socialist. In turn, “Joe” became somewhat of a media fixture on the Right as GOP candidate Sen. John McCain used the gaffe to highlight the differences between him and his Democratic opponent.
After that moment thrust him into unexpected fame, Joe went on to marry his wife Katie and have three children. In July 2023, Joe announced his illness.
“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 explained, “I don’t think of him as losing his battle. Because he knew Jesus, his battle was won.”
“My heart goes out to everyone whose lives are impacted by cancer,” she added. “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.”
His surviving wife also described why she fell in love with him.
“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 said to Fox News. “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.”
After the announcement of his passing, conservatives memorialized the man on X — formerly known as Twitter.
“Horrible news,” writer Derek Hunter said. “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.”
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
“RIP To Joe ‘The Plumber’ Wurzelbacher,” Judicial Watch president Tom Fitton said. “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.”
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
“This is sad,” Ryan Girdusky, founder of the 1776 Project Pac said. “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.”
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 set up to assist his family has already raised more than $147,000.