Richard Joesting

Richard E. Joesting, 69, of 2503 West Main, Marshalltown, Iowa, died January 7th, 2007 at his home under the care of his family and Iowa River Hospice after a lengthy battle with cancer. Funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m. Friday at the First Baptist Church with Pastors Richard Sipe and Conrad Lundberg officiating. He will be laid to rest in the Riverside Cemetery. Visitation will be at the church Thursday evening from 6-8:00 p.m. where the family will be present to greet friends. Memorials may be directed to the family in his name for the Honduras Orphanage or FBCs Music & Media Ministry. Mitchell Family Funeral Home is caring for Richard and his family. For condolences, visit www.mitchellfh.com. Born on August 15, 1937, in Manly, Iowa, he was the third of six children born to Maxine and Lewis Davis. As an infant, he and his two older brothers were taken by the county and placed for adoption. He was adopted by Miles and Bessie Joesting of Marshalltown. Three more children were later born to the Davis. As a young adult, he met and kept in contact over the years with four of his siblings, but they were never able to learn the identity of their oldest brother. Richard attended St. Marys Catholic School until high school when he switched to MHS and graduated with the class of 1956. He attended Junior College for one year. On June 30, 1961, he was united in marriage to Sarah Scheffert at Baptist Temple in Marshalltown. Most of his working years were spent at Lennox Industries, where he retired after 32 years of employment. He loved the outdoors and enjoyed hunting, fishing, camping and boating. For many years he looked forward to summer motorcycle trips all over the U.S. with family members and friends. He loved yard work and puttering in his garage. In his younger years, he was a member of the Cornbelt CB Club, a scout leader for a local troop, a cast member of several Community Theater productions and bowled for many years with the Lennox League. In his spare time over the years, he had installed antennas on many homes in the city. He was active at First Baptist Church were at one time he was a member of a mens quartet, sang in Chancel Choir, was a sponsor for a Baptist Youth Group, worked in the sound booth and videotaped numerous weddings and church programs. He was a member of the Builders Sunday School Class. In his retirement years, he enjoyed going to garage sales and doing yard work for other people. He loved calling on the shut-ins and sick members of the church. Left to celebrated his life are his loving wife Sarah, daughter Robin (Jason) Fisher and son, Eric, all of Marshalltown; three brothers Larry (Norva) Charter of Madrid, Iowa, Russell (Becky) Davis of Brazeria, Texas and Dave (Bud) Davis of Jacksonville, Florida; one sister Deloris Barton of Carthage, Texas; three brother-in-laws William E. (Dode) Scheffert, Robert (Flo) Scheffert and Clarence (Tina) Scheffert, all of Marshalltown; seven grandchildren Grant, Chandler, Cassidy and Drake Fisher, Gavin, Jacob and Jordan Joesting, all of Marshalltown. He is also survived by numerous nephews and nieces, as well as great-nephews and nieces. In death he has rejoined his parents, his in-laws Elmer and May Scheffert, two brother-in-laws Gene Scheffert and Hank Barton, and a great-nephew Jamie Davis.