Joseph George “Joe” Lower, age 85, of Parnell, died Sunday, September 18, 2005 at English Valley Care Center from an extended illness. Funeral Services: 10:30 A.M. Thursday, September 22, 2005 at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church, Parnell with Father Pat Lumsden officiating. Burial will be in St. Joseph’s Cemetery with full military honors conducted by American Legion Post #369, Parnell and VFW Post #8797, Williamsburg. Friends may call from 4 to 8 P.M. Wednesday, September 21, 2005 at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church where there will be a Scripture Service at 7 P.M. followed by a Knights of Columbus service. Memorials may be contributed to St. Joseph’s Catholic Church. Kloster Funeral Home, Marengo, is in charge of arrangements.

He is survived by his wife Mary Laurine; 11 children, Betty Szyszka (Walt) of Amana, Dr. Thomas (Ceree) of Osceola, Robert (Dorothy) of Iowa City, M.Patricia Lower of Las Vegas, NV, Janet Caldwell (Kevin) of Washington, Francis (Elizabeth) of Riverside, Helen Heisler (Tim) of Phoenix, AZ, Donald (Theresa) of Williamsburg, David (Maria del Mar) of Spain, Marita Stewart (Robert) of Phoenix, AZ, Susan Lower of Iowa City; a daughter-in-law, Catherine Brown of North Liberty; 23 grandchildren, 10 great-grandchildren, and 4 step-grandchildren. In addition he is survived by a brother and his wife, Leonard (Rozella) Lower of Williamsburg. He was preceded in death by his parents, a daughter Mary Kathryn in 1946, a son Michael J. in 1974, a son-in-law William J. Dickhaus in 1993, and a sister Veda Hanson.

Joseph George Lower was born April 12, 1920 in Williamsburg, Iowa the son of George B. and Kathryn Callan Lower. He attended school in Parnell and graduated from Parnell High School in 1938. He then went on to welding school in Chicago. He married Mary Laurine Hanson on July 9, 1941 at St. Michael’s Church in Holbrook. Joe served in the U.S. Army for 3 years and 9 months, serving in Germany, Africa, Italy, England, and landing on Utah Beach in France with the 531 st Engineers. He was discharged on October 14, 1945. Upon returning home, Joe engaged in farming and in later years became a rural mail carrier for the Williamsburg Post Office, from which he retired.

Joe was a member of St. Joseph’s Catholic Church, Parnell, Rural Letter Carriers Association, a charter member of the Knights of Columbus, and First Commander of the American Legion Post #369, Parnell.