Joseph Eugene Start was born in Seattle and grew up in Bothell Washington. He attended Everett Community College then finished his undergraduate work at Western Washington University. He also attended Oregon State University for his teaching credentials. He led an adventurous life. He loved drum circles, snow skiing and the great outdoors. He was an avid collector of old bottles collecting hundreds of unique antiques. Joe was also an avid Rockhound and collected and discovered hundreds of beautiful mineral specimens from all over the world. He drummed in an American String Band performing many local gigs. He taught everything from Head Start and Preschool to master's level college courses. While teaching, he was also a 20-year employee of the Federal Forest Service spending those seasons building and maintaining trail while fiercely protecting the forestlands; he so loved. He also was a wildland forest fire fighter for the Forest Service being deployed as far away as Helena Montana for a massive "100 Year" fire to giant fires that he could see on Green Peter Mountain from his living room in Sweet Home. He arrived by truck or helicopter and fought fire fiercely to save the wilderness.

A teacher by trade he raised his two children, Kerri and Jason, with his wife of 19 years, Jan, who he met in college. He was the driving force in starting girls' softball and boys' soccer in Sweet Home because he refused to have his kids denied the opportunity to compete in sports that they cared for. After his divorce he met Emily Christianson traveling to see his son Jason's last basketball game of his sophomore season.