Joseph Turner Graf Hove 1985 - 2003

GRAF, HOVE

Posted By: Marguerite (email)
Date: 4/1/2003 at 13:37:22

SOLON

Joseph "Joe" T.G. Hove 17, of 2371 Hwy 1 NE, Solon, a junior at Solon High School, went to be with Jesus on the morning of March 21, 2003. Death was the result of head injuries received in an automobile accident near Chicago on Interstate 88 in Illinois, while returning home with his family from a college visit.

Services will be held at 1:00 p.m. Wednesday, March 26, 2003, at the Parkview Evangelical Free Church, 15 Foster Road, Iowa City, with the Reverend Doug Schillinger, officiating. Burial will be in Oakland Cemetery, Solon. Friends may call from 3:30 until 8:00 p.m. Tuesday at Parkview Evangelical Free Church. A “Remembering Joe” get-together celebration will be on Sunday, March 30, 2003 at 6:30 p.m. at Parkview Church and all are invited. Memorials may be made to the Joe Hove Science Scholarship, Parkview Church Youth Ministries, Solon Boy Scouts Troop #120 or Heritage Christian School. Online condolences may be sent to the family at www.lensingfuneral.com.

Joseph Turner Graf Hove was born December 22, 1985 in Des Moines, Iowa, the son of Harlo D. and Kathryn L. (Graf) Hove. He moved with his family to Solon in 1989 and attended Lakeview Elementary (K-2). Joe attended Heritage Christian School (3-8) and was currently a junior at Solon High School.

Joseph was active at Parkview Evangelical Free Church, where he was on the Student Ministry Team, (SMT). He was active with Student Impact and was on the Atmosphere Committee which did the Art work for Student Impact. He had been in the AWANA Program since kindergarten and had earned the Timothy Award and Meritorious Award. He attended a weekly Bible Study led by Phillip Lashmitt and was instrumental in leading the development of a Solon Christian youth group called Ignite. He worked several summers on a Timothy Team at Hidden Acres Christian Camp, Dayton, Iowa, and participated in SEMP and Equip ministry camps.

At Solon High School he was a member of the National Honor Society. He participated in the Junior Engineering and Technical Society (JETS) and his team placed ninth in the nation in 2002. He was one of five students on the Solon Science Bowl quiz team. His 2002 science project, “Gyroscopic Precession vs. Rotational Speed” placed first at the Iowa State Science Fair in the physics division and he received a second place award in the physics division at the International Science Fair. He played JV soccer and indoor soccer with a league. He had earned scholar awards from the Iowa State Talent Search and the University of Iowa Belin Blank program.

Joseph was an Eagle Scout and member of Troop 120 Boy Scouts and the Order of the Arrow. His Eagle project was landscaping work at Parkview Church. He had earned 30 merit badges, the God and Country Award, and the Arrow of Light. He earned the Mile Swim patch three times. He was a BSA Lifeguard and had earned the 50 Afloat/Afoot award twice. He loved camping and back packing and had participated in a 58 mile trek at the Philmont Scout Ranch in New Mexico in July 2002. He attended a Boundary Waters canoe trip in Canada in 2001 and a 40 mile backpacking trip in the Porcupine Mountains, Michigan in 2001. He attended Boy Scout Camp in the summers and had worked 110 service hours for the Solon community through scouts.

Joseph took piano lessons from Chuck Michaelson for nine years and had earned three awards from the National Federation of Music Clubs. He played the trombone and electric bass guitar. He loved Christian rock music and had an extensive collection.

His hobbies included reading, frisbee golf and drawing. He loved being with friends. He was known for his big smile and laugh, his humor and his amusing goal of wearing only black clothes from 7th grade through high school. Most important to him was to be a follower of Jesus Christ.

Joe is survived by his parents, Dr. Harlo and Kathryn Hove of Solon, his brother, Joshua, and his sister, Abigail, both at home, his grandparents; Viola M. Graf of Fairfield and H. Merne and Dorothy Hove of Booneville, Arkansas, and numerous aunts, uncles and cousins.

He was preceded in death by his grandfather, Lewis E. Graf.