Joseph Harper Sr.

JOSEPH GEORGE HARPER SR.

Cedar Rapids

Joseph George Harper Sr., 91, of Cedar Rapids, passed away Monday, June 26, 2017, at the Dennis and Donna Oldorf Hospice House of Mercy, Hiawatha. Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Monday, July 3, at Cedar Memorial Park Chapel of Memories. Visitation will be held on Monday beginning at 9:30 a.m. at the chapel. Burial with military honors will follow at Cedar Memorial Park Cemetery.

He is survived by his loving children, Joe Harper Jr. of Marion, Kathy (Dave) Balvanz of Marion and JoAnn (Steve) Abel of St. Charles, Ill.; 11 grandchildren; nine great-grandchildren; siblings, Lucille Baummer and Robert Harper, both of Connecticut; and many nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents; wife, Mildred, in 2013; two sons, Stephen and Christopher Harper; and siblings, Beatrice Bradford, Elwood Harper, Mabel Harper, Stephen Harper, Bertha Alexson and Jeanne Perugini.

Joseph Harper Sr. was born Nov. 30, 1925, in Naugatuck, Conn., the son of Stephen and Bertha (Durette) Harper. He married Mildred Ryan on Sept. 30, 1951, in Barstow, Calif. He proudly served in the U.S. Marine Corps and retired after 24 years of service. Joseph was employed by the city of Cedar Rapids Water Department as water plant manager from 1967 until he proudly retired in 1991.

He enjoyed hunting, fishing, gardening, landscaping, family vacations and remodeling his home. Joseph was a member of St. Matthew's Catholic Church.

He was a dedicated husband, father, son, brother, grandfather and friend.

Memorials in Joseph's name may be directed to Hospice of Mercy. Checks can be made to Mercy Foundation, 701 10th St. SE, Cedar Rapids, IA 52403.

Please leave an online condolence for the family at www.cedarmemorial.com under Obituaries.