McNamer, Joseph Howard 'Mac'

On March 18, 2012, Joseph Howard “Mac” McNamer passed away after an extended battle with a succession of strokes. Services will begin at 11 a.m. Saturday at Lensing Funeral Service in Iowa City. Visitation will be held from 4 to 7 p.m. Friday at the funeral home. Burial with military honors will be in Oakland Cemetery in Iowa City.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to the Joseph H. “Mac” McNamer Memorial Fund.

Mac is survived by his big sister, Betty McNamer; four children, Julie Anderson of Phoenix, Ariz., Matt and Ellen (St Onge) of Frederick, Md., Andrew “John” and Susan (Van Gorden) of Marion, Kathryn of Iowa City; and six beautiful grandchildren.

Howard was born on Jan. 21, 1929, in Hills, Iowa, to Andrew and Blanche (Abbey) McNamer. He spent the early years of the Depression on the family farm in Morse, Iowa, until the family moved into Iowa City, which he became happy to call home for the rest of his life.

He graduated from Iowa City High School in 1947 and subsequently enrolled in the University of Iowa in the ROTC program. After training, he was commissioned as a Lieutenant in the U.S. Army. This commission earned him the unexpected privilege of serving in the Korean War as an engineering officer in the 2nd Division. Mac saw action on Boomerang Hill and the Iron Triangle, but said he enjoyed building schools for the children as much as fortifications against the enemy.

Upon returning from the war, he wooed and married Patricia Jean Clark and proceeded to work and raise a family in Iowa City, while always taking time out to watch “his Hawkeyes.”

Howard worked for 30 years at the Post Office as a mail handler and clerk, but almost always had a second job to support his family. He ran his own delivery business and worked for the Iowa City Press Citizen for many years. He was an avid golfer in his prime and tried valiantly to teach his children the game he so enjoyed.

In 1993, Howard suffered a severe stroke and was forced to retire from work, if not life. He lived with his sister, Betty and daughter, Kate. After successive strokes he came to depend on the wonderful people at Crestview Rehab Center and their Hospice services.

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