Rhomberg, Joseph Andrew --- 1926-2013
ENZLER, RHOMBERG, DONLON, SCHMIDT, HUPP, LAWLER, SIMPSON, KELEHER, LAURIN, GOODING, KLOBERDANZ, BAILEY
Posted By: IA GenWeb Volunteer
Date: 6/7/2013 at 12:39:16
Joseph Andrew Rhomberg
Funeral services were held at 10:30 a.m. April 6, at St. Joseph's Catholic Church, Elkader, Iowa, for Joseph Andrew Rhomberg who passed away April 1, 2013 at Arbor Springs Memory Care in West Des Moines, Iowa. Visitation was held from 4 to 7 p.m. April 5, 2013 at Leonard Funeral Home in Elkader. Interment was April 6, 2013 at St. Joseph's Catholic Cemetery, Elkader, Iowa
Joseph Andrew Rhomberg, son of Joseph W. and Madeline (Enzler) Rhomberg, was born on May 2, 1926, in Dubuque, Iowa. He graduated from Loras Academy and later earned his business degree from Loras College. At the end of World War II, he enlisted in the Army Air Corp, serving in Germany and French Morocco.
After college, Joe purchased the Hyde Brothers Implement business, and his 63 years in Elkader began. His first Elkader address was a rental unit attached to the home of Jack and Monica Donlon, who just happened to have a beautiful daughter, Barb, who caught Joe's eye. Joe and Barb were married on August 25, 1956. This union produced 8 children and a family filled with laughter, love and constant activity.
Joe worked hard, and he played hard. His business flourished, and he took great pride in serving the farming communities of Northeast Iowa. In 1980, he sold the International Harvester Implement to his partners and retired.
This left more time for his many other passions. He was a constant fan at all his children's sporting events, and a beloved brother and uncle at family gatherings. He loved the outdoors. He never missed an opportunity to be on the water; whether it was canoeing or snowmobiling on the Turkey River, fishing on a Canadian lake as far off the map as possible, sail boating in the Great Lakes, or pushing the limits of his fishing boat in the Gulf of Mexico. He was an avid hunter, and after retirement, you could find him walking the fields or woods of his Clayton County hobby farm.
A chapter of Joe's life closed with Barb's death in 1995, and a new chapter began. With much more love to share, he married LaVarr Schmidt on December 26, 1996, and the family grew. Joe and LaVarr were the ideal pair, enjoying golfing, card games and bowling, wintering in Florida, and giving generously of their time and treasure to their family, church, community and one another.
Joe was diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease in 2002, and he persevered courageously and successfully for many years. As is the nature of this unfortunate disease, with time, came loss.
The final chapter of Joe's life ended peacefully on April 1, 2013 at Arbor Springs Memory Care in West Des Moines, Iowa. Without memory or words, his spirit remained. Those who knew him for moments, or knew him for a lifetime, were similarly touched. As was the case throughout the story, he went to the Lord comforted by the faith and love that he shared through a life well-lived.
Joe is survived by his wife, LaVarr Rhomberg of Charles City; his 3 brothers, Fr. Tom Rhomberg, Jack Rhomberg and Bill Rhomberg, all of Dubuque; 8 children, Joe Rhomberg of Rockport, TX , Jeannie Hupp of Peoria, IL, Mary Lawler of Urbandale, Patti Simpson of Albia, Monica Keleher of Mount Vernon, Kathleen Laurin of West Des Moines, Susan Gooding of Urbandale, and John Rhomberg of Mount Vernon; 3 step-children, John Schmidt of Dubuque, Su Kloberdanz and Eric Schmidt, both of Charles City; 30 grandchildren and 5 great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his parents, his first wife, Barb, and his sister, Mary Bailey of Dubuque.
Taken from a funeral brochure.
Clayton Obituaries maintained by Sharyl Ferrall.
WebBBS 4.33 Genealogy Modification Package by WebJourneymen