Joseph "J.J." James Child

Joseph “J.J.” Child, 78, of rural Laurel, Iowa, passed away on Monday, May 28, 2018, at home while under the care of Iowa River Hospice and surrounded by his loving family. Funeral services will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Friday, June 1, 2018, at the Mitchell Family Funeral Home in Marshalltown, Iowa. Visitation will be from 5:00 to 8:00 p.m. on Thursday, May 31, 2018, at the funeral home in Marshalltown. Memorials may be directed to the family to be designated at a later date. For condolences or questions please visit: www.mitchellfh.com or call 641-844-1234. Mitchell Family Funeral Home is caring for J.J. and his family. Joseph James Child was born on May 25, 1940, in Marshalltown, Iowa; he was the son of Joseph E. and Fern Marie (Nekola) Child. He attended school in the Toledo school district graduating with the class of 1958. On January 22, 1959, J.J. was united in marriage to Barbara Jane Atchison at the parsonage of the Toledo Methodist Church. They made their home in rural Laurel, Iowa, where he had resided until his death. He had worked and retired from Fisher Governor Controls in 1995 as a Machine Lathe and Grinder operator after 30 years of faithful service. He also owned a small engine, chainsaw repair business. He was a member of Laurel United Methodist Church and the Grinnell Masonic Lodge. J.J. loved his family and the time he could spend with them and always enjoyed giving them a hard time Left to cherish his memory is his wife of 59, years, Barbara; his children, Lorrie Lynn (Patrick) Murphy of Minneapolis, Minnesota, Lanette Renee Alderink of Laurel, Iowa, Leigh Ann (Jeffrey) Walbaum of Story City, Iowa, and Troy Allan (Brittany) Child, of North Branch, Minnesota; 9 grandchildren and 8 great-grandchildren and many nieces and nephews. In death he rejoins his parents, Joseph Child and Fern Blazek, stepfather, Frank Blazek, sister, Joan Espe, and son-in-law, Charles Alderink.