Whalen, Joseph Jr. "Josey Whales" 1961 - 2024
WHALEN, WERNET, BRUENING, CHRISTOPHER, HOLKESVIK, CAROLAN, FISHBAUGHER, PFREMMER, MASIAS, SCHMITT, PIERCE, JOHNSON, KEMNA
Posted By: Joy Moore (email)
Date: 11/29/2024 at 10:48:55
Joseph “Josey Whales” Whalen Jr, age 63 of Burr Oak, IA passed away on Friday, November 22, 2024, at his home after a long battle with a chronic lung disease.
Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Wednesday, November 27, 2024, at Burr Oak Lutheran Church, 2358 360th St, Decorah, IA 52101. Burial will be in St. Bridget Cemetery in Bluffton, IA.
Visitation will be from 2:00 until 6:00 p.m. on Tuesday, November 26, 2024, at Helms Funeral Home, 306 E. Water St. in Decorah. There will be no visitation prior to the service on Wednesday at the church, attendees are asked to please come in and be seated.
In Lieu of flowers: memorials may go to Joe's family and a donation will be made in his memory.
Join the family after the burial for a Celebration of Life at Barney's in Burr Oak at 1 p.m.
Joseph (Josey Whales) Whalen was born on August 17, 1961 to parents Joe and Doris (Wernet) Whalen. He was the seventh of eight children. Growing up Joe attended Mabel-Canton and Harmony schools. He graduated in 1980 in Harmony, Minnesota. He then went to Rochester, MN to attend two years of school at Rochester Vo-tech for mechanics. Joe’s career consisted of working at H&S Motors in Cresco, IA, Bigalks Chevrolet in Harmony, MN and was the head diesel mechanic at Wick’s Construction until his chronic lung disease led him to retirement in 2006.
Joe married Darcy (Bruening) on February 16, 1985. From this union, Joe and Darcy were blessed with three beautiful children, Amber Jo, Jamie Darrell and Aubrey Anna. Joe’s pride and joys were his three grandchildren Kale Joseph, Riley and Nora. Joe enjoyed hunting, camping, sitting around the campfire with friends, with Joe sharing his famous jokes and stories, in which no body laughed harder at these, than Joe himself.
Joe enjoyed traveling with Darcy and close friends on many adventures which included Alaskan and Caribbean Cruises, Mexico and most recently a family trip to South Dakota.
He is survived by his wife Darcy (Bruening), Children; Amber (Chance) Christopher of Decorah, IA, Jamie Whalen of Spillville, IA, and Aubrey (Zeb Holkesvik) Whalen of Decorah, IA. Grandchildren; Kale and Riley Christopher and Nora Whalen. Siblings; Rosella (Greg) Carolan of Decorah, IA, Dennis Whalen of Harmony, MN, Linda (Ron) Fishbaugher of Harmony, MN, Tom (Marsha) Whalen of Preston, MN, Lori (Fred) Pfremmer of Preston,Mn, Blaine (Kathy) Whalen of Harmony, MN, Keri (Connie) Whalen of Burr Oak, IA. Sister-in-laws; Debbie (Mark) Masias of Colorado Springs, CO, Denise (Tim) Schmitt of Cresco, IA. Brother-in-law; Jed (Sam Pierce) Johnson of Dyersville, IA and many nieces, nephews, cousins and many close friends.
He is preceded in death by his parents Joe and Doris Whalen, brother Phillip Whalen, father-in-law Darrell Bruening, mother-in-law Juanita Bruening, brother-in-law Tim Schmitt, niece Chris (Carolan) Kemna, beloved dogs Odie, Molly and Rooney and close friends.
In our hearts, you will always stay loved and remembered every day.
A very special thank you to RHSHC Community Hospice for all their tender loving care they provided to Joe, Darcy and family. Especially Joe’s direct hospice staff Dr. Kammerer, Katlyn, Shannon, Lisa and Katie W.
Source: Helms Funeral Home database
St. Bridget Cemetery
Winneshiek Obituaries maintained by Jeff Getchell.
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