West, Joe

Joe West, 72, of Cedar Rapids, died Sunday, July 7, 2013, in his home from a sudden illness. Services: 1 p.m. Friday at Cedar Memorial Chapel of Memories with Pastor Dan Wiersema officiating. Entombment: Cedar Memorial Park Cemetery. A visitation will be from 4 to 7 p.m. Thursday at Cedar Memorial Park Funeral Home.

Survivors include his daughters, Terri (Frank) Loutsch and Tina (Dale) Dice, all of Cedar Rapids; his grandchildren, Angel May Loutsch and fiance Dave, Brandon (Stacey) Loutsch and Erik Dice and Emily Dice, all of Cedar Rapids; his siblings, Minnie Hawkins of Neosho, Mo., Dollie (Winston) Tate of Kansas City, Mo., Earnie (Rita) West of DeWitt, Lorena (Martin) Colvin of Independence, Mo., Thelma (Richard) Berry of Indiana and Helena Law of Independence, Mo.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Walter and Neomi West; a son, Richard West; a daughter, Sheila West; grandson, William; sister, Maxine Clevenger; and brothers, Chuck and Everett West.

Joe was born June 10, 1941, in Kirksville, Mo., the son of Walter and Neomi Warner West. He was a police officer for the town of Swisher, always patrolling Dance-Mor. He then worked for Sanitary Farm Dairy in Cedar Rapids, often handing out chocolate milk to the kids in the neighborhood. Joe also worked for Colonial Bakery in Cedar Rapids and handed out their signature mini loaves of bread to the many children on Halloween, and then at the Spring House in Cedar Rapids where he made life long friends. He was a very generous man. He was a member of Immanuel Baptist Church and enjoyed spending time with his grandchildren in the park. He will be greatly missed by his family and friends.

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Memorials may be made to the family of Joe West.

Published in The Gazette July 10, 2013.