Edward Joseph "Joe" Rispalje 1938 - 2016

RISPALJE

Posted By: Connie Swearingen - volunteer (email)
Date: 6/24/2016 at 01:17:47

Sioux City Journal
21 June 2016

SIOUX CITY | Edward Joseph "Joe" Rispalje, 78, formerly of Sioux City, passed away unexpectedly in his sleep on May 26, 2016, at his home in Spokane, Wash.

In respect of Joe's wishes, there was no service, but a remembrance gathering will be held in July at his home.

Joe was born on May 1, 1938, in Portsmouth, Ohio, to John A. and Elizabeth A. Rispalje. In 1946, the family moved to Sioux City. After graduation from Central High School in 1957, he joined the U.S. Navy and served aboard the USS Preston and later with the Coast Guard, serving aboard the USS Mandate.

Joe attended Universal Trade School in Omaha, taking air conditioning and refrigeration courses. He also attended the University of Minnesota, taking general night school courses, and Dunwoody Institute in Minneapolis, where he continued courses in air conditioning and refrigeration, and N.W. Electronics Institute in Minneapolis.

Two children, Jill and James, were born to a 1963 marriage, which later ended in divorce in 1984.

In 1970, Joe was employed with Control Data in Minneapolis, where he was an assistant technical instructor and conducted training classes in the installation and maintenance of electronic computers and associated equipment.

While employed with Thermo-King in refrigeration for 30 years, he started as a mechanic, advanced to instructor/trainer, and retired in 1999 as western regional manager. During his working years, he lived in Minneapolis, Seattle, Wash., Rochester, Wash., and Spokane.

On weekends, he worked on a car or truck at his home. He was a member of the Nile Shrine Temple in Seattle, where he enjoyed visiting the Shrine Children's Hospital with the Clown Unit as Jolly Joe.

Survivors include his wife, of 31 years, Demarious; a sister, La Donna Preston of Sioux City; daughter, Jill Blyth, and her children, William and Benjamin; son, James Rispalje, and his children, Jameson and Jolin, all of Minneapolis; stepdaughter, Debra Babcock, and her daughter, Amanda, of Hamilton, Mont.; and stepson, Christopher Ross of Albuquerque, N.M.

Joe was preceded in death by his parents, John and Elizabeth Rispalje of Sioux City; an uncle, Robert Chester Turner of Lancaster, Ohio; a brother-in-law, Donald Preston of Sioux City; and two sets of grandparents.