WATERBURY, Joseph J. 1941 - 2016

WATERBURY, PIEPER, BUCH, POGGIOLI, MYERS, REID, FILDES, FUNKE

Posted By: Joey Stark
Date: 11/3/2016 at 15:36:38

"The Fairfield Ledger"
Friday, October 28, 2016
Page 8

Joseph J. WATERBURY

Joseph J. WATERBURY, 75, formerly of Tama, IA, died Tuesday morning October 25th, 2016, at SunnyBrook Living Care Center in Fairfield, IA.

There will be a Celebration of Life and open house at the Tama Legion Hall in Tama, IA 1105 E 5th Street on Saturday, November 5th, 2016 from 3:00pm until 7:00pm.

In lieu of flowers, memorial funds have been established. Memorials can be sent to the Tama Fire and Ambulance 305 Siegel St Tama, IA 52339, Toledo Fire and Ambulance PO Box 64 Toledo, IA 52342 or the Jefferson County Public Health Department at 200 W. Briggs, Fairfield, IA 52556.

Joseph was born on September 6th, 1941, in Tama, Iowa to Hal and Frances WATERBURY. He lived most of his life in the Tama and Chelsea, IA areas.

After graduation, Joe attended U.S. Trade Schools in Kansas City specializing in auto mechanics. Upon completing the courses, he went to work for Hartwig Motors in Iowa City.

In 1962, Joe married Ellen PIEPER of Tama at which time he began working for Tama County in maintaining the county vehicles. Eager to broaden his opportunities, Joe began employment for an auto salvage and soon purchased this establishment in 1970. Joe and his wife ran this business known as Sandhill Auto Salvage for 40 years. They recycled over 60,000 vehicles and were recognized as one of the top 10 Green Auto Recyclers in the U.S. and Canada. After Joe purchased this business, he had a total of $8.00 left in his pocket and has built it into over a million dollar company which is now run by his son and daughter-in-law, Mike and Mitzi WATERBURY.

In Joe's younger years, he enjoyed playing men's fast pitch softball with his position as the pitcher for the team. He looked forward to sharing his Iowa Hawkeye football tickets with his friends and traveled to several bowl games.

Besides being an auto recycler, Joe loved gardening. With his wife by his side, they turned their yard into a beautiful paradise of flowers, trees, shrubs, water gardens, and gazebos. Joe spent hours constructing brick pathways that wound throughout their vegetable and flower beds.

Known not only for his auto business, Joe was a self-taught master craftsman in wood working. In 1995, he and his wife built and furnished a dollhouse to showcase Moss dolls for the artist P. Buckley Moss. They traveled with this artist and their dollhouse to shows across the United States. They are very proud that this work of art is now displayed in Waynesboro, Virginia at her art gallery. Joe was offered a million dollars for his creation by a couple in Chicago, but turned it down as he did not want to pay the taxes!

Joe retired in 2010 when technology and bar coding of the auto parts took over. When he finally completed his "honey do list" and made his acceptance speech for the 2010 "Citizen of the Year", he and his wife moved to Fairfield, IA to be near their daughter, Deb BUCH.

As Joe's heart failure progressed, he spent hours working jigsaw puzzles to pass the time. Game shows and ESPN were his new best friends.

Joe was admired by anyone who crossed his path. You could say he was a self-made man with a kind and modest spirit. He always rooted for the underdog (Chicago Cubs included) and would give any man down on his luck a better opportunity at life.

Survivors include his wife, Ellen, of 54 years, two daughters Chris (Dan) PAGGIOLI of Pecatonica, IL, Deb (Dan) BUCH, of Fairfield, IA, and one son, Mike (Mitzi) WATERBURY of Tama, IA. Grandchildren include Mitch, (Jillian) MYERS, Leanna MYERS, Ryan REID, Leslie REID, Clay WATERBURY, Madison, Myles, and McKade WATERBURY and one great-grandson, Raidyn FILDES.

Joe is also survived by one sister, Barb (Darwin) FUNKE, State Center, IA, and one brother, Bill (Ellyn) WATERBURY, Iowa City, IA.

Joe was preceded in death by his parents, Hal and Frances WATERBURY, one brother, Jim WATERBURY, and one son, Steve WATERBURY.

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*Transcribed for genealogy purposes; I have no relation to the person(s) mentioned.

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