Joseph Dewey Mentzer
- Visitation will be from 10:00 am
– 11:00 am, Friday, November 1st, 2024, at Hennessey Funeral Home in Missouri
Valley, Iowa. Funeral service will follow at 11:00am. - The family would like to invite
guests to a Luncheon which will be held at the Eagles Club in Missouri Valley
following the interment.
Joseph D.
Mentzer, 85, passed away on Monday, October 28, 2024, at home in the company of
his family.
Joe was born in
Missouri Valley, Iowa, to James and Gertrude Mentzer on September 24, 1939. Joe
was the youngest of eight children. He was raised in Missouri Valley, where he
attended elementary and high school, graduating as part of the Class of 1958.
After graduation,
Joe proudly joined the United States Navy, serving 4 years. During that time
Joe toured the Philippines, Japan, Guam, and China. He was proudly honored as”
Navy Man of the Month.” Joe returned to Missouri Valley after his service in
1963 to help his mother and begin the next chapter in his life.
At that time, he
began a 25-year career at Blue Star Foods as a Plant Manager. Joe changed
fields and began working for the Iowa Department of Transportation until
retirement. In his free time, Joe enjoyed hunting, fishing, softball, card
club, and bowling. He was a member of the Masonic Lodge, Eagles, VFW and the
American Legion.
Throughout his
life, family was a priority. He married his love and best friend, Marilyn (Thomas)
Mentzer, on December 29th, 1963. They were blessed with over 60 happy years and
two children, Marilyn Joann Mentzer and Scott Joesph Mentzer. Joe was an avid
cribbage player and enjoyed playing cards with his brothers on Saturday
morning, in addition to Marilyn and him playing daily games of cribbage at the
kitchen table. Marilyn and Joe enjoyed traveling in their younger years all
over the United States of America. Joe enjoyed nature and could be regularly
seen enjoying the view from the front porch. He would feed squirrels, birds and
deer daily.
Joe’s five
grandchildren have been a big part of his life. He has enjoyed ball games, taxi
services, sharing treats, playing catch, games and long conversations with each
of them. He was their mentor, confidant and advisor. He loved and was loved.
He is survived by
his wife Marilyn, children Mari Jo (Brad) Mentzer-Doyle, and Scott (Tracey)
Mentzer. Five grandchildren, Kayla (Sam) Friehe, Arthur Wisecup, Caitlyn
(Brandon) Crom, Morgan (Drake) Cohrs, and Delaney Mentzer (Dustin Peasley.) Four
great grandchildren, Brantley, Connor, and Landon Friehe, and Kalia Cohrs, his
sister Esther Nichols, extended family and many lifelong friends.
Joe was preceded
in death by his parents, brothers Bud Mentzer, Charles Mentzer, James Mentzer,
Robert Mentzer and sisters Evelyn Hart, Dorthy John, and Gertrude Nichols.