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Joel Biggs Sr.
JOEL BIGGS SR.
Quasqueton
Joel Gilson Biggs Sr., 92, of Quasqueton, passed away Tuesday, March 21, 2017, at home surrounded by his loved ones.
Joel was born April 2, 1924, in Roselle Park, N.J., to Joel and Olive (Ulmer) Biggs. Not long after Joel was born, the family moved to Tucson, Ariz. Joel worked in the family business as a machinist until graduating from Tucson High School in 1942. In 1943, during World War II, Joel enlisted in the U.S. Coast Guard, serving as a motor machinist on the cutter Perseus, spending time on the West Coast before being deployed to the Philippines.
On July 5, 1946, Joel married the love of his life, Alice Elizabeth Briggman, in Tucson. To this union, they were blessed with six children: Joel Jr., Sandi, Cathy, Peg, John and Mark. In 1960, Joel and Alice purchased a homestead south of Winthrop, where they farmed and raised their children. Joel also worked at John Deere for 13 years as a machinist before retiring from farming in 1986.
Not one to sit idle, Joel started his second career in 1988 with Walmart in Independence. The people he worked with during that time were an extension of his family and he appreciated and loved them dearly.
Joel will be remembered for his kindness, his loving soul and giving spirit. We will miss his wisdom and positive outlook on life as well as his witty conversation.
Preceding him in death were his wife, Alice; his parents; sisters Marian Chapman and Doris Todd; and brothers, Ray, Ted, Kenny, Cliff and Harley.
Survivors include one sister, Olive Craig of Houston, Texas; six children, Joel Jr. (Ellie) of Guttenberg, Sandi (Bob) Colin of Urbandale, Cathy (Bob) Amfahr of Grundy Center, Peg (Mick) Thein of Garnavillo, John (LuAnne) of Winthrop and Mark (Dawn) of Quasqueton; 15 grandchildren; 14 great-grandchildren; and many nieces, nephews and friends.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Hospice of Comfort Regional Medical Home Care of Manchester or Cedar Rock American Legion Post 434, Quasqueton.
The family will greet friends at the Cedar Rock American Legion Building in Quasqueton from 1 until 4 p.m. Sunday, March 26, where they will celebrate Joel's life. Private family burial will take place in the Quasqueton Cemetery.
Fawcett Funeral Homes and Cremation Services are assisting the family with arrangements.
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