Gaherty, Peter "Joe" Joseph (1932-2015)
GAHERTY, MERTZ
Posted By: Paul Nagy (email)
Date: 7/19/2015 at 13:07:58
Peter "Joe" Joseph Gaherty
May 29, 1932 - June 27, 2015Peter "Joe" Gaherty, age 83, of Storm Lake, Iowa, died on Saturday, June 27, 2015, at the Methodist Manor Retirement Community in Storm Lake.
Joe Gaherty was born in Storm Lake on May 29, 1932. Baptized and confirmed at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Storm Lake, he remained a member of that parish his entire life. He grew up on the family farm outside Storm Lake, attended grade school and high school at Providence Consolidated in Sulphur Springs, and graduated in 1950.
In 1951, Joe was inducted into the U.S. Army and spent part of his two-year tour of duty in Korea toward the end of the Korean Conflict. Discharged in 1953 with the rank of sergeant, he returned to farm with his father and over the years purchased his own parcels of land adjoining the family farm.
Following the deaths of his parents, Joe moved to the nearby home built by his grandfather in 1913 and continued to farm that land as well as his own. Always interested in sports, having played basketball in high school, he took up bowling and became involved in regular league play in Storm Lake. A serious fan of local high school basketball, he followed local teams even to their state tournament play. He became especially interested in stock car races at this time and attended races regularly at the Alta Fairgrounds.
Joe is survived by his brother, Michael; his sister-in-law, Ellen; and his brother-in-law, Laverne Mertz; as well as by numerous nieces and nephews.
He is preceded in death by his parents, Thomas and Margaret; his sister, Helen Mertz; and twin nieces, Michelle Marie and Lisa Ellen Gaherty.
A Funeral Mass will be offered on Wednesday, July 1, 2015, at 10:30 a.m. at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Storm Lake. Burial will follow in the St. Mary's Catholic Cemetery. Visitation will take place Tuesday, June 30, 2015, from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. with a vigil service at 7:00 p.m. and a rosary at 7:30 p.m. at the Fratzke & Jensen Funeral Home in Storm Lake. The Fratzke & Jensen Funeral Home in Storm Lake is in charge of the arrangements.
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