Joseph G. Gansen
July 11, 1933 ~ January 11, 2013
Joseph G. Gansen, age 79, of Elma, IA passed away unexpectedly on Friday, January 11, 2013 at Escondido, CA while on vacation. Joseph George Gansen was born on July 11, 1933 to Clarence and Geneva (Jacoby) Gansen in Elma, Iowa. He attended Elma Country School #9. He then farmed with his dad and took over farming the family farm in 1961. Joe was united in marriage to Eleanore Ludwig on January 28, 1953 at Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church in Lourdes. Joe and Eleanore raised their five children on the farm and continued to farm to the present time. Joe enjoyed golfing, tractor pulls, farming and he especially loved his wife and family. Joe’s main joys were his kids, cows and collies. Joe is survived by his wife of 59 years Eleanore of Elma; children Kenny (Jamie) Gansen of Elma, MaryJo (Dennis) Fitzgerald of Elma, Jayne (Joe) Jeffrey of Vista, CA, Bob (Dawn) Gansen of Elma, and Richard (Annie) Gansen of Elma; 16 grandchildren; 18 great-grandchildren; sisters Mary Finley of Story City, IA, Kathrine White of Alta Vista, Norma (Ken) Kolbet of Naperville, IL and Jeannette (Brian) Glaser of Kansas City, MO; brother Gerald (Marge) Gansen of Elma; sister-in-law Regina Gansen of Elma; and numerous nieces and nephews. He is preceded in death by his parents Clarence and Geneva Gansen; one brother Nicholas; brothers-in-law Wayne Finley and Daniel White and daughter-in-law Debra Gansen.
Cemetery:
Burial will be in Calvary Cemetery at Elma with his nephews serving as casket bearers.
Memorials may be directed to the family.
Visitation will be held from 4:00-8:00pm on Friday, January 18, 2013 at Conway-Markham Funeral Home in Elma with a 4:30pm Rosary and a 7:30pm Scriptural Wake Service. Visitation will continue at the funeral home one hour prior to the funeral mass on Saturday.
Mass of Christian Burial will be 10:30am on Saturday, January 19, 2013 at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Elma, Iowa with Father Steve Garner celebrating mass.
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Our deepest condolences are with you in your time of grief. May you continue to find comfort in the memories that you all shared together and get comfort from knowing one day Sickness will be no more and Death will be a thing of the past. In times of grief such as these, We find it comforting to meditate on the words found in the Bible at Job 14:14, 15. Job expressed his faith that God would bring him back to life if he should fall asleep in death as he said: All the days of my compulsory service I shall wait, until my relief comes. You will call, and I myself shall answer you.” The scriptures indicate that it is possible to be reunite with your loved one in the near future, right here on earth under peaceful, righteous conditions. Psalms 37:10, 11 offers us this promise. Our sincere condolences to your entire family.
Gansen family sorry for the loss of your husband and dad
i am so sorry for your loss. I will always remember Joe’s playful smile and his tooting the horn of his pickup truck as he would drive by my childhood home. He took me on my first boat ride on Clear Lake and I remember how he enjoyed giving us kids a “joy ride” as the waves splashed up on us. I remember the day of the barn fire and the look of concern he had for his kids who were in the barn with him. I will always think of Joe as that young man who loved life and his family.
Our thoughts and prayers go out to the entire Gansen Family! Just smile at the memories you all have with Joe and know that he is watching out for you all!
With deepest sympathy to the family. Jpe will be greatly missed.
Fran Palmersheim
Sioux City, IA
My deepest sympathy to Eleanor and all of Joe’s family. I have only good memories of Joe as a neighbor and friend to my family, growing up down the road from him and Eleanor. You will all be in my thoughts and prayers.
To all of the Gansen family I am so sorry for your loss. Joe worked hard to provide for his family and did it with a smile. Sincerely, Mike Fitzgerald, Sherman Texas
Eleanor and family,
Our sincere sympathy goes out to you all at this difficult time. You must know that Joe is watching over you all in spirit and with the angels will continue to guide you.
Eleanor, my sympathy to you and your Family. I
remember attending your wedding in 1953 along
with most of our fellow Classmates (Elma I. C. `53).
With Kindest Regards
Bob
My sympathy to Eleanor and your family. Want to wish Katherine a Happy Birthday today. I think of you often. Also want to extend our sympathy to Bob and Dawn. Take care.
Our thoughts and prayers are with you!
We are sorry we can’t be there to say Goodbye to Joe and support all of you!
Love
Dot & Bob
Rich & Annie,
We are so sorry for your loss. Please remember you are in our thoughts and prayers.
so saddened to see this in the paper tonight. I always enjoyed visiting with Joe and he seemed to always make a person laugh. My thoughts and prayers are with the entire Gansen family.
MaryJo, Dennis, and families. Our sympathies for your loss. Thoughts and prayers.
My deepest sympathies to Eleanore and your entire family.
Tom Schmid, Milwaukee, WI
My sincere condolences to the wonderful family of Joe Gansen. I never realized the impack the family had on my journey untill hearing of the passing of Joe. I enjoyed many time with you guys and wish you the best.