Joe Wathen

JOE RICHARD WATHEN

Cedar Rapids

Joe Richard Wathen, 82, of Cedar Rapids, died Saturday, Jan.2, 2016, at Heritage Nursing and Rehabilitation Center. Funeral services will be held at 1 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 6, at Cedar Memorial Park Chapel of Memories. Visitation will take place from 4 until 6 p.m. Tuesday at Cedar Memorial Park Funeral Home. Interment will be at Cedar Memorial Park Cemetery.

Joe was born at home on Sept. 28, 1933, to Howard and Emma (Albrook) Wathen in Troy Mills, Iowa. He was united in marriage to Bernice Norton on June 15, 1952, in Rowley, Iowa. In 1977, Joe and Bernice graduated from Rhema Bible School and began their lifelong ministry together.

Joe was a self-employed large appliance service repair technician. In his younger years, he played high school baseball, pitching for Rowley High School. He loved fishing and hunting. He had a green thumb and enjoyed gardening. Bernice and Joe enjoyed bird watching together and spending time outdoors. They loved taking camping trips with their family. Joe enjoyed raising labrador retrievers for hunting. His true joy came from sharing the Gospel alongside his wife and spreading the message of hope found in Jesus Christ.

Joe is survived by his wife of 63 years, Bernice; two children, Debbie Kimball of Cedar Rapids and Dennis (Shanna) Wathen of Grinnell; three grandchildren, Elizabeth (Charles) White of Cedar Rapids, Jennifer Lee Wathen of Iowa City and Amy Kirkpatrick of Kansas; three great-grandchildren, Christopher Kimball, Jonathan and Tyler Kirkpatrick; three great-great-grandchildren; two sisters, Marjorie Barske of Cedar Rapids and Laura Morris of Janesville, Wis.; as well as two brothers, Frank Wathen of Oxford and Jim Wathen of Council Bluffs.

He was preceded in death by his parents; brothers, Carl and John Wathen; and sister, Marylou Terry.

Memorial donations in Joe's name may be directed to Love A Child, P.O. Box 60063, Fort Meyers, FL 33906.

Online condolences may be conveyed at www.

cedarmemorial.com.