August, Joseph Samuel - 1920-2012

ACQUISTO, AUGUST, COOK, EAGER, JACKSON, MANN, RITTER

Posted By: Diana Wagner
Date: 8/20/2024 at 12:57:43

Joseph Samuel August, 92, of Marshalltown, IA, passed away Saturday, September 8, 2012, at the Iowa Veterans Home in Marshalltown, IA. Mass of Christian Burial will be at 10:30 a.m., Thursday, September 13, 2012, at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Marshalltown. Inurnment will be at Riverside Cemetery. A memorial has been established in his name. Estel-Perrin-Avey Funeral Home of Marshalltown has been entrusted with the arrangements. Online condolences may be sent to www.vogelfuneralhomes.com.
Joe was born with the birth name of Joseph Samuel Acquisto on July 21, 1920, to Salvatore and Vincenza Acquisto. Joe graduated from Libertyville High School, Libertyville, Illinois where he turned his attention to many sports leading his football team to its first and only undefeated season his senior year as starting fullback.
After his graduation, Joe went on to the University of Illinois on a football-golf scholarship. He was injured during fall practice at Illinois, and then with the outbreak of World War II, went into the Marine Corps after completing his first semester. While spending four years in the Marines, Joe achieved the rank of Master Sergeant.
On June 2, 1945, Joe was united in marriage to Juanita Eager. Juanita passed away September, 23, 2001. After the war, Joe signed with the Pittsburgh Pirates organization and played in their farm system. After two years with the Pirates, Joe decided to go to his first love which was golf. He got a job as an assistant club pro at one of the biggest country clubs in the country, the Olympia Fields Country Club in Chicago. After three years as an assistant at Olympia Fields, Joe went on to become club pro at Minnesota Valley in Minneapolis. He spent three years there before coming to Marshalltown in the fall of 1952, where he was head Pro at Elmwood Country Club until his retirement in 1985. The lists of achievements at Elmwood are endless. Joe was most proud, when in 1962 Elmwood added nine more holes and eventually became one of the most respected 18 hole golf courses in the state.
While at Elmwood, Joe hosted some great tournaments. The Iowa Open was played at Elmwood in 1966 and was the largest Iowa Open in history. Joe was tournament director of the State Best Ball which was held at Elmwood for 30 plus years, and now is held in Ames, IA and known as the Joe August Best Ball. He was also tournament director for the Women's Amateur Open and the Men's State Tournament. Joe was President of the Iowa PGA Section for three terms starting in 1961. Joe was Vice-President of the National PGA from 1973-1975, where he was Chairman of the special events committee, a committee that named Jack Nicklaus Player of the Year in 1974. He was also named Iowa Section PGA Pro of the Year on two separate occasions. In 1988 Joe was the first PGA Pro inducted into the Iowa Golf Hall of Fame. Joe was a great promoter of Junior Golf around the state as well as being known as a great teacher. He also held one of the best caddy programs in the state.
Joe is survived by his children, Holley (Gary) Ritter, Waterloo, IA; John (Helen) August, Marshalltown, IA and Joe Jr. (Linda) August, Marshalltown, IA. Also surviving Joe are his grandchildren, Jason (Jennifer) August, Marshalltown, Heidi Mann, Marshalltown, Jeffrey (Erin) Jackson, Phoenix, AZ, Trevor August, Chicago, IL, Joshua August, West Des Moines, and Jennifer (Nate) Cook of West Des Moines. He is also survived by his great-grandchildren, Landry August and Jefferson August of Marshalltown. He was preceded in death by his wife, Juanita; his parents; his brothers, Tom Acquisto, James August, Harry August; son-in-law, Jack Jackson; and his grandson-in-law, Mark Mann.
Published in Des Moines (IA) Register; Tuesday, September 11, 2012, page 4B