Joseph W. 'Joe' Conlan

JOSEPH W. "JOE" CONLAN

Cedar Rapids

Joseph W. "Joe" Conlan, 77, of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, and formerly of Bernard, Iowa, passed away on Tuesday, Jan. 1, 2019, at St. Luke's Hospital in Cedar Rapids.

Mass of Christian Burial will be at 11:30 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 5, 2019, at St. Elizabeth Ann Seaton Church in Hiawatha, Iowa, with the Rev. Mark Ressler officiating. Visitation will be from 9 a.m. until the time of Mass at the Church. Burial will be at 3 p.m. Saturday at Mount Olivet Cemetery in Dubuque with full military honors accorded by the Cascade American Legion Post 528. Leonard Funeral Home & Crematory is in charge of arrangements, 2595 Rockdale Rd., Dubuque.

Joe was born on March 4, 1941, in Dubuque, the son of Orville and Lucille (Kress) Conlan. He graduated high school from St. Patrick School, North Garryowen, and attended Loras College in Dubuque. He served in the U.S. Army from 1963 to 1966 and was stationed in Vietnam for one year. He was a proud participant in an honor flight to Washington, D.C., in May 2018.

Joe owned and operated the Twelve Mile House Supper Club in Bernard for many years. He also worked as an insurance adjuster and a realtor for Goodman Insurance and Reality in Dubuque before moving to Cedar Rapids. In Cedar Rapids, he continued his passion for real estate and land development, working for Iowa Realty until his retirement.

He married Gail Alt on April 26, 2003, and they were happily married for 15 years. They took many trips around the United States and twice to Europe. Gail was the love of his life.

Joe enjoyed bowling, going to stock car races and golf, especially in his later years. He also looked forward to celebrating St. Patrick's Day because he was proud of his Irish roots.

He was an advocate for the underprivileged, and he supported Camp Courageous and Albrecht Acres for many years. Joe was a faithful Catholic and a member of St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Church.

He is survived by his wife, Gail; stepchildren, Ed (Sandi) Alt and Mark (Kristen) Alt; three step-grandchildren, Mikaela (Michael) Henson, Ashley Alt and Kelly Alt; siblings: sister, Mary Patricia Conlan, RSM of Dubuque, Frank (Darlene) Conlan of Bernard, Ed Conlan of Dubuque, Mary (Roger) Konrardy of Dubuque, Doris (Allan) Sauser of Cascade, and Dan (Barb) Conlan of Key West. He also is survived by many nieces, nephews and cousins, especially Jean Church, Cheryl Valenta and Barb Dye.

He was preceded in death by his parents; a sister, Grace (Conlan) Gassman; and his in-laws, Bertil and Helen Anderson.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be given to Camp Courageous or the Joseph Conlan Memorial Fund.