Joseph Paul Greif
August 29, 1931 — December 4, 2014
Joseph Paul Greif, 83, of Coggon, passed away December 4th, 2014, at his winter home in North Port, Florida after a long illness. A funeral Mass will be held Thursday, December 11th, at 10:30 a.m., St. Stephen’s Catholic Church in Central City, Iowa, with a one hour visitation prior to Mass at the church. Burial will be at Mt. Olivet Cemetery, Coggon. Friends may call Wednesday December 10th, from 3:00pm to 8pm at Murdoch Funeral Home, in Marion, where a vigil scripture service begins at 2:30pm.
Survivors include his wife of 59 years, Jean; seven children, son James (Sharon) of Monticello, and their children, Peter, Nicholas, and Kathleen; son Jerry, of Vinton, and his son Jonathon Leonard; daughter Jane Gephart (Donald) of Manchester; son Joseph Jr. of Coggon, and his children, Adam (Holly), Richard (Breanna), Benjamin, Ross, and Josetta; son William (Cammie) of Monticello, and their children, Brenton (Katie) and Dustin (Kaitlin); son Robert of Ft. Myers, Fl.; daughter Debra Zumbach (Louis) of Coggon, and their daughters, Brandy (Fiancé Michael Meisheid), Taylor, Allison, and Rachel; 5 great- grandchildren, Cody, Kaden, Coulter, Abigail and Ethan, and 2 great-grandchildren on the way; 3 brothers, Earl (Velda) of Orion, Il., Arnold (Betty) of Central City, and Louis (Marcene) of Cedar Rapids; 2 sisters, Teresa (Dick) Stevens of Cedar Rapids, and Jeanette Freese of Monticello; and 4 sister in-laws, Betty Maher (Dick) of Fairfield, Ct., Elodie Greif of Cedar Rapids, Rita Greif of Marion, and Lois Greif of Coggon.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Emil and Josephine Greif; step-mother Renny Greif; In-Laws Walter and Mae Zieser; a son, John Michael; brothers, Robert, Loras, Fay, and John; sister-in-law Alvina Greif; and brother-in-laws John Hollingsworth and Duane Freese.
Joe was born August 29th, 1931 in Hopkinton, the son of Emil and Josephine Greif, and graduated from Coggon High School in 1948. He married Jean Zieser on May 25th, 1955 at St. Patrick’s Catholic Church in Winthrop. Joe farmed near Coggon, and was a strong role model for his children and grandchildren. He was past president of Linn County Farm Bureau, and a Boulder township trustee. Joe was a Patz dealer for 30 years. He was a member of St. Stevens Catholic Church, Central City and a member of the Knights of Columbus. Joe was a boating enthusiast, and created years of memories at their cabin on Lake Delhi. He taught all of his children to water ski, and to work hard and play hard. Joe’s greatest joy was spending time with his family. He loved fishing, hunting, mowing lawn, attending the Indy 500, traveling, and agriculture. He will be remembered for his passion for life, and his strong faith in God.
A memorial fund has been established for the Prairieburg Fire Department and the Linn County Fair.
Survivors include his wife of 59 years, Jean; seven children, son James (Sharon) of Monticello, and their children, Peter, Nicholas, and Kathleen; son Jerry, of Vinton, and his son Jonathon Leonard; daughter Jane Gephart (Donald) of Manchester; son Joseph Jr. of Coggon, and his children, Adam (Holly), Richard (Breanna), Benjamin, Ross, and Josetta; son William (Cammie) of Monticello, and their children, Brenton (Katie) and Dustin (Kaitlin); son Robert of Ft. Myers, Fl.; daughter Debra Zumbach (Louis) of Coggon, and their daughters, Brandy (Fiancé Michael Meisheid), Taylor, Allison, and Rachel; 5 great- grandchildren, Cody, Kaden, Coulter, Abigail and Ethan, and 2 great-grandchildren on the way; 3 brothers, Earl (Velda) of Orion, Il., Arnold (Betty) of Central City, and Louis (Marcene) of Cedar Rapids; 2 sisters, Teresa (Dick) Stevens of Cedar Rapids, and Jeanette Freese of Monticello; and 4 sister in-laws, Betty Maher (Dick) of Fairfield, Ct., Elodie Greif of Cedar Rapids, Rita Greif of Marion, and Lois Greif of Coggon.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Emil and Josephine Greif; step-mother Renny Greif; In-Laws Walter and Mae Zieser; a son, John Michael; brothers, Robert, Loras, Fay, and John; sister-in-law Alvina Greif; and brother-in-laws John Hollingsworth and Duane Freese.
Joe was born August 29th, 1931 in Hopkinton, the son of Emil and Josephine Greif, and graduated from Coggon High School in 1948. He married Jean Zieser on May 25th, 1955 at St. Patrick’s Catholic Church in Winthrop. Joe farmed near Coggon, and was a strong role model for his children and grandchildren. He was past president of Linn County Farm Bureau, and a Boulder township trustee. Joe was a Patz dealer for 30 years. He was a member of St. Stevens Catholic Church, Central City and a member of the Knights of Columbus. Joe was a boating enthusiast, and created years of memories at their cabin on Lake Delhi. He taught all of his children to water ski, and to work hard and play hard. Joe’s greatest joy was spending time with his family. He loved fishing, hunting, mowing lawn, attending the Indy 500, traveling, and agriculture. He will be remembered for his passion for life, and his strong faith in God.
A memorial fund has been established for the Prairieburg Fire Department and the Linn County Fair.
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