Lowell L Joseph

Lowell Joseph, age 90, of Eau Claire, left this world with strength and courage on July 19, 2015, after suffering a stroke on June 15. He passed with family at his side at the Syverson Lutheran Home. Lowell was born of German descent in Polk, NE, on Groundhogs Day, Feb. 2, 1925, the second of three children of Ludwig and Bertha (Redeker) Joseph. He grew up on their farm in Polk until their crops were lost to hail two years in a row in the early 1930’s. They then moved to the New Ulm/Courtland, MN, area, before eventually settling in St. Paul, MN, in 1938. He graduated from Humboldt High School in St. Paul on June 14, 1943. Within a week of graduation, Lowell was called to service in the Army and sent to Belgium to serve in SCHAEF, the Supreme Command Headquarters of the Allied Expeditionary Forces as a records clerk. He stayed with SCHAEF as the war progressed going next to England, then to France, then to Germany and ending up in Switzerland at the wars end. He was discharged at Fort McCoy on his 21st birthday. Upon coming home from the war he worked as a courier in the Great Northern Railroad Corporate Office in downtown St. Paul in 1946 and this is where he met his future wife, Janis Bystrom. On June 19, 1948, Lowell married Janis at Gustavus Adolphus Lutheran Church in St. Paul. Lowell began working for Mutual Service Insurance as an underwriter in 1946 and eventually moved to Eau Claire to become an agent for Mutual Service in 1957. In 1963, he became an independent agent and partner in the insurance company of Donnellan, Stromwall and Joseph, which later became Stromwall, Joseph and Gustaveson until his retirement in 1989. Lowell and Janis celebrated their 65th wedding anniversary together in 2013. Throughout his wonderful life, Lowell extensively traveled the four corners of this great earth with his wife, friends and family. After his time in Europe during WWII, his love of travel knew no bounds. He relished his 40 years of summer months spent at his cabin on Shell Lake and his winter months spent in St. Petersburg Beach, Florida. He worked and played hard and his family always came first. Lowell was a devout Christian and an active member of Trinity Lutheran Church since 1957. Lowell is survived by his brother, Donald Joseph of Sun City, AZ; two children, Doug Joseph of Eleva and Louree Kelsey of Eau Claire; four grandchildren, Joshua Joseph of Eau Claire, Angela (Bob) Foy of Eau Claire, Heidi (Shea) Murphy of St. Paul and Jessica (Gernot) Kalcher of Seattle, WA; and six great-grandchildren, Joseph Foy, Payton Foy, Wyatt Foy, Shea Murphy, Griffin Murphy and Cashton Nicolai; and one step great-grandson, Robert Foy. He was preceded in death by his wife, Janis; his infant son, David; his parents; his sister, Dorothy Joseph; and son-in-law, Jeff Kelsey. Our family would like to express our appreciation for the loving and compassionate care that was given to our father by the remarkable staff at both Heatherwood and the Syverson Lutheran Home in Eau Claire. Visitation will be held prior to the service beginning at 10:00 a.m. on Friday, August 14, 2015, at Trinity Lutheran Church, 1314 E. Lexington Blvd., Eau Claire, WI. The funeral service will begin at 11:00 a.m. with Pastor Jim Page officiating. A luncheon will follow the service. A private family burial will take place following the luncheon, with Military Honors conducted by American Legion Post 53. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be given to the charity of your choice in Lowell’s name or the family will chose an appropriate charity after the service. Vaya Con Dios Mis Padre.

Service Information

Cemetery

Lakeview Cemetery
1500 Buffington Drive
Eau Claire WI 54703

Visitation

Friday, August 14 2015
10:00 AM - 11:00 AM

Trinity Lutheran Church
1314 E. Lexington Blvd.
Eau Claire WI 54701

Memorial Service

Friday, August 14 2015
11:00 AM

Trinity Lutheran Church
1314 E. Lexington Blvd.
Eau Claire WI 54701