Joseph Halsch

JOSEPH THOMAS HALSCH

Iowa City

Joseph Thomas Halsch,

70, of Iowa City, Iowa, died Tuesday, April 20, 2021, at

the University of Iowa Hospitals & Clinics.

Joseph was born Nov. 30, 1950, in Iowa City, the son of Joe and Helen Halsch. He graduated from Regina High School and Upper Iowa University. After graduation, Joe moved to Naperville, Ill., as an accountant for McDonald's Corp. In 1974, Joe chose to move back to Iowa to help his father and mother run the family farm and has been farming ever since. Joe married Lou Rankin in Iowa City on March 19, 1982, on Lou's birthday. They met through mutual friends, with whom they remained close.

Lou and Joe had three children, Ben, Elie and Sarah. Joe was an amazing dad who was very involved in his kids' lives. He taught them how to drive on the farm at a very young age, taught them how to play sports, hunt, fish, and he attended all their school activities. Joe was always teasing and laughing with them and just loved being silly, they had many inside jokes.

Joe was a wonderful Husband, Dad, Uncle, Brother and Friend, but Joe's favorite title was Papa. He loved spending time with his three grandkids, Sam, Emma and Wesley. Joe had such a sense of fun and playfulness, playing baseball, wrestling, having water gun fights and taking them for rides on the tractors and combine. Papa Joe was an important person in all their lives.

Joe never intended to retire because he loved farming so much. He loved the land, the farming community, the farming friends he made and his family heritage. Although Joe spent many hours tending to his crops and caring for his livestock, he made time for all his family and friends. He was a kind and genuine person who called the people in his life to encourage them, send them good wishes and to offer up his help in any way he could. One of his well-known traits was calling his family and friends on their birthdays and leaving special voicemail messages.

Joe's work ethic could not be matched. He worked incredibly hard, however, Joe also knew it was important to celebrate and enjoy life. Some of his favorite things included cheering on the Hawkeyes (especially Hawkeye Wrestling), traveling with his family, watching his nephews' play sports at Regina, fishing, mushroom hunting, pheasant hunting and deer hunting. One of his greatest joys was celebrating reunions and spending time with old friends, especially with his "fraternity" the Foxes and attending 40-plus years of "Friendsgivings."

Joe is survived by his wife, Lou; his children, Ben (Joanna), Elie and Sarah Whitmore (Ian); his grandchildren, Sam and Emma Halsch and Wesley Whitmore; his eight younger brothers and sisters; his many nieces and nephews; and great-nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Joe and Helen Halsch; brother, Gerald Halsch; mother and father-in-law, Jean and Charles Rankin; and brother-in-law, Jim Wilson.

In lieu of flowers, please direct donations to the University of Iowa Center for Advancement, c/o UI Stead Family Children's Hospital Fund.

Private family services will be held. A celebration of life will be held at a later date. Online condolences and memories may be shared at www.lensingfuneral.com.