Joseph C. Griffin

Joseph Claire Griffin was born on June 19, 1922, one of six children, to Dennis and Edna McNertney Griffin of Buck Grove. He died April 25, 2016, at Eventide after living the winter months with Betty at Silveridge, receiving expert loving care at both facilities.Joe attended country school and Denison High School; but the war interrupted his life. While he hoped to join his brother Clem in the Navy, Joe was ordered into the Marines. Before being shipped overseas, he married Betty Almarine Ruberg on January 3, 1944, beginning a life-long romance. Although she understood treacherous times loomed ahead, Betty hoped for a “little Joe” if he didn’t return. Prayer became the mainstay of both of their lives. Almost immediately, Joe was shipped to Camp Pendleton and subsequently to Iwo Jima.Landing on the beachheads with the Fifth Division of the Marines on the first day of the battle, February 19, Joe endured continuous, day and night enemy combat in one of the bloodiest conflicts of WWII. After nearly four weeks of fighting for his country and his life, on March 15 he was wounded with shrapnel to the leg and abdomen from a hand grenade. Following field surgery on the island, Joe required eight months of hospitalization in Hawaii and Coeur d’Alene, Idaho. For sacrificing for his country, Joe was awarded a Purple Heart. The couple returned to Denison for a very thankful Thanksgiving that year.Joe returned to Denison and the newlyweds raised three children on the family farm. When the kids were in high school, Joe and Betty moved to Denison in 1961 where he worked at the Post Office, working his way up from substitute clerk to Post Master in 1980. Upon retirement, he also enjoyed working at the Pfannebecker Funeral Home for eighteen years. While living in Denison, Joe was very involved in the community. He was a life member of the Legion and the VFW, member and president of the Golden K’s, member and president of the Farmer’s Mutual Insurance Board, and City Council member for four years.Throughout their life together, Joe and Betty danced, socialized with friends, played golf and cards, traveled to Alaska, Switzerland, Ireland; but the highlight was their family with the blessing of grandchildren and great grandchildren. They played, prayed, babysat, cooked, baked, and fixed anything broken…they were always in demand. Papa Joe will be so missed.Joe’s faith was a rock to him throughout his life. At Zion he participated in various committees and was President of AAL and the Fellowship Club, as well as Vice-President of the congregation. Prayer was a continual force in Joe and Betty’s lives from the frontlines of the war to the lives of friends to all the challenges and joys of their three children and their families. All the children and spouses, all ten grandchildren, and all fifteen great grandchildren will travel from eight distant states and even Australia to attend Joe’s funeral in honor of this man they loved so much.When JESUS greeted Joe in heaven at the age of 93, HE blessed him: “Well done, good and faithful servant”. Matthew 25:21.Joe was preceded in death by his parents Dennis and Edna, and brothers Laurence and Clement Griffin.Survivors include his wife of over 72 years, Betty Griffin of Denison, Iowa, three children: Robert (Judy) Griffin of South Salem, New York, Connie (Brent) Waldron of Aspen, Colorado and James (Jan) Griffin of Eagle River, Alaska; 10 grandchildren, 15 great grandchildren, three sisters: Denice Watje and Eileen Heiden of Denison, Iowa, and Theresa Rohwer of Cleveland, Ohio; brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law: Ray (Arlene) Ruberg of Moville, Iowa, Jean Jensen of Audubon, Iowa, and Dorothy (Keith) Jensen of Irwin, Iowa; nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.Funeral services were held at 10:30 a.m. Friday, May 13, 2016 at Zion Lutheran Church in Denison, Iowa with the Rev. Kurt R. Kaiser officiating. A duet of “Lord Be My Rock” by Larry Boeck and Renee Miller and solos of “Amazing Grace” by Sharon Opheim and “On Eagle’s Wings” by Eldon Hardekopf were sung along with a congregational hymn of “How Great Thou Art” with Jeanette Venzke serving as organist. Pallbearers were Joe R. Griffin, Ben Klingenstein, Nathan Waldron, Matt Dorr, Ryan Waldron, Drew Larson, Geoff Ferguson, and Seth Sheldon. Interment, with Military Honors provided by the United States Marine Corps Honor Guard and American Legion Post 8, Denison, Iowa, was at Crawford Heights Memory Gardens, Denison, Iowa. Following the graveside rites and burial the family invited everyone back to the church for fellowship and a luncheon provided by Staley’s Catering and Zion Ladies Aid. The Pfannebecker Funeral Home, www.pfannebecker.com , Denison, Iowa was in charge of arrangements where on Thursday, May 12, 2016 a visitation was held from 4:00 p.m. until 6:00 p.m.