Dr. Joseph C. Locher, D.D.S. 1926-2007
LOCHER, JUNGK, SCHMITT, CLEMENS, MOONEN, CLAUS, HUINKER, GRILLOT, HOLUBAR
Posted By: cheryl moonen (email)
Date: 2/5/2015 at 06:08:04
Telegraph Herald (Dubuque, IA) - Wednesday, June 20, 2007
Deceased Name: Dr. Joseph C. Locher
Dr. Joseph C. Locher, D.D.S., 80, of 550 St. George St., Dubuque, died Sunday, June 17, 2007, at home.Services will be at 11 a.m. Thursday at St. Columbkille's Church, where friends may call after 9 a.m. Thursday. Burial will be in Mount Calvary Cemetery, where military rites will be accorded by the Dubuque Marine Corps League Detachment. The Haudenshield Funeral Home, Kieler, Wis., is in charge of arrangements.
He was born on Dec. 24, 1926, in Dubuque, son of Dr. Joseph and Lucille (Jungk) Locher. He graduated from Loras Academy and enlisted in the Army Air Corps during World War II, serving as an aerial photographer.
After the war and four years at Loras College, Joe entered the Dental College at the University of Iowa, graduating in 1952, after marrying Joan Monica Clemens at Holy Ghost Church, in Dubuque, on Thanksgiving Day, Nov. 23, 1950. She was not just the love of his life, she was also his best friend.
He went into dental practice in 1952. His dental practice included more than two decades of service to the brothers at New Melleray Abbey monastery. No dentist ever practiced with more professional skill, and no doctor was ever more genuinely beloved by his patients.
Dr. Joe was a member of the Knights of Columbus, the American Legion and the American Dental Association. He served many years as president of both the Dubuque Astronomy Club and the Model Train Collectors Association.
Devotion to family was his central daily purpose. Joe was always full of life and a true joy to be with in any setting. He shared a very strong Catholic faith with his family. Joe exhibited a great enthusiasm for his many interests, from intricate model ship building to spectacular practical jokes. He was a master storyteller of what were, remarkably, apparently true tales from both youth and adulthood, stories that would have humbled the imagination of Mark Twain. There will never be another like him, and that is truly unfortunate.
The world lost a great and unique person and personality when God took home "Dr. Joe" Locher on Sunday. Very appropriately, Joe left us physically on Father's Day, but he was such a special individual that he will always be here in spirit presence for everyone ever blessed with his love, humor, and friendship. He was so memorable to all who knew him, his family and friends, his dental patients and his fellow model train collectors, that his distinctively engaging persona will never fade away.
Dr. Joe is survived by his wife of 57 years, Joan Monica Locher; his nine children, Cheryl (Donald) Moonen, of Farley, James, Jeffery, Jason and Justin Locher, all of Dubuque, Joseph T. Locher, of Ashland, Ore., Jon (Deb) Locher and Michelle Locher, both of Coralville, Iowa, and Maria (Greg) Locher-Claus, of Gainesville, Fla.; his 12 grandchildren, Gael (Ted) Huinker, Nathan (Rebecca) Moonen, Adrianne (Tim) Grillot, Grace Moonen, Mitchel, Ava and Lucas Locher, and Sophia and Sam Claus; his five great-grandchildren, Gina, Ellen, and Joseph Huinker, Andrew Grillot, and Maxwell Moonen; his sister and two brothers, Carolyn (Mel) Holubar, of Marion, Iowa, Richard (Mary) Locher, of Naperville, Ill., and Robert (Carol) Locher, of Erie, Colo..
He was preceded in death by three infant baptized sons; and by his parents.
The family asks that all memorial donations be given in Joe's name to St. Columbkille's parish to establish a fund, or help finance an existing fund, for the purpose of making Catholic elementary school education available to low income students.
Dubuque Obituaries maintained by Brenda White.
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