Ervin L. Gjovig

GJOVIG, MCMILLAN

Posted By: Kathy Zobeck (email)
Date: 4/29/2011 at 09:01:12

Ervin L. "Joe" Gjovig, 91, of Iowa City, died Tuesday, April 26, 2011 at Briarwood Healthcare Center in Iowa City.

Ervin was born October 21, 1919; son of Olaf and Bertha (McMillin) Gjovig. After school, Ervin joined the United States Army and served as a vehicle Mechanic during World War II. He served from August of 1940 until July of 1945, when he was able to take a very crowded, over-loaded ship home to the U.S. After his time in the Army, he attended Dunwoody Industrial Institute in Minneapolis, Minnesota where he attained his engineering degree. After college, Ervin was employed by John Deere in Waterloo for many years, until he accepted a job in Fairfield at a foundry. Later he moved to California where he eventually retired from Renfro.

On October 12, 1974, Ervin married Helen (Bunting) McMorris in Omaha, Nebraska. Shortly thereafter, they moved to Glendale, California where they would remain until 1985 when Joe would retire. Ervin and Helen then moved back to Iowa City to their house on Wakefield Court, where they had lived until August of 2010, when Joe moved to Hawthorne Inn at Windmill Point in Coralville. Joe had remained at Windmill Point with Helen, until just six days before his death.

Joe and Helen were very active members of The River Community Church where they helped begin a group known at the church as the Prime Timers. Joe was also very active with politics around the community; He volunteered many hours working polling stations, writing editorials published in the Iowa City Press Citizen and regularly attending Johnson County Supervisor meetings. He was recognized by Governor Brandstad years ago for his time spent volunteering. He was also an avid supporter of Senator Charles Grassley and always enjoyed very spirited political discussions. Joe also served for a number of years on a voluntary committee with the county supervisors working with property compensation throughout the county. He was a member of the Iowa City American Legion and the served several years as a delegate with Older Iowans Legislature (OIL).

Joe and Helen also enjoyed their daily routines, every morning after breakfast they would spend time with their daily devotionals, and often times after those devotionals, Joe would break out in song, singing Take the Name of Jesus with You.

Joe's family includes his wife, Helen; son from his first marriage, Roger Gjovig; stepchildren, Kay (Larry) Shaw, Bev (Ray) Bryant, Jan Muench, Marilyn (Jim) Dean, Sue (Lowell) Lutt, Mel (Lynn) McMorris, Venita McMorris (Ken Nash), Deb (Dell) Briggs; sister, Lydia (Bob) Emee as well as 16 grandchildren and 21 great-grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his parents; son, Russell Gjovig, two brothers and two sisters.