Joseph Spahr (1940-2021)

SPAHR, ZIRKELBACH, VAN BUREN

Posted By: Ken Wright (email)
Date: 2/22/2021 at 18:26:14

Joseph Spahr age 80, died Thursday, February 11, 2021 at the Jones Regional Medical Center following a sudden illness.
Funeral services will be held 10:30 Saturday morning, April 10, 2021 at Peace United Church of Christ, Monticello with interment in the Oakwood Cemetery. Friends may call from 4 until 7 Friday, April 9, 2021 at the Goettsch Funeral Home, Monticello. You may access the live service by going to Goettschonline.com and then by clicking the Watch Our Live Services on Facebook button which will direct you to our Facebook page. You may also sign the guestbook or leave a condolence at Goettschonline.com. Memorials may be made to the Jones Regional Medical Center COPD department, Peace United Church of Christ or the Monticello Conservation League.
Surviving is his wife, Sandra, his children, Marcey (Mike) Muller, Monticello, Phillip Spahr, San Angelo, TX., and his friend Carin, his grandchildren, Raymond (Emily Webb) Spahr, Franklin, OH., Madelyn and P.J. Spahr, Ballinger, TX., and his sister, Ruth (Bob) Zirkelbach, Monticello and many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents, a son Mark Joseph in 1964, 2 brothers, Charles and Robert Spahr, and in-laws, Winnoa Dierks, Wilma McNeilly, Pearl Dabbs, Wanda Hodges, Duane Harford, Rollo Harford and Carol Hansen.
Joseph Lee Spahr was born August 21, 1940 at Monticello, Iowa. He was the son of Austin and Helen E. Van Buren, Spahr. Joe graduated from the Monticello Community Schools in 1958, where he was active in in 4H, football and band. He worked for Cuckler Buildings for a year before he started farming in 1959. He married Sandra Harford on February 22, 1959 at the First Presbyterian Church, Monticello. The couple farmed until 2009. They built a new home and moved to Monticello in 2010.
Joe was active in the Peniel Presbyterian church, he served as an elder in the First Presbyterian Church and then joined Peace United Church in 2002. He was a 4 H Leader and served on several 4 H committees. Joe joined the Farm Bureau in 1959, and was on the board for 30 + years. He was a member of the Monticello Conservation League for 60 years and treasurer for 28 years. He had also served on the Jones County Pork Board. Joe was a member of Chapter 5 of the International Harvester Collectors Club. He still has his 1955 International pink and black pickup truck. He was also a Cornelius Seed Corn salesman for 50 years. Joe worked with the Iowa Farm Bureau to have a corn drive to raise money for the extension of the Jones Regional Medical Center. He also helped design the COPD clinic in the new extension.