Joe Goodlander

March 30, 1927 - November 12, 2017

Joe Melvin Goodlander, age 90, of Washington, Iowa, died Sunday, November 12, 2017, at his residence following a short illness. Celebration of life services will be held 1:30 p.m. Friday, November 17, 2017, at Prairie Flower Baptist Church with Pastor David Cotner officiating. Calling hours will begin noon Thursday at the Jones & Eden Funeral Home where the family will receive friends from 5:00 until 7:00 p.m. Thursday. Interment with military honors will take place at Elm Grove Cemetery in Washington. Memorials have been established for Hospice of Washington County. Online condolences may be sent for Joe’s family through the web at www.jonesfh.com Joe was born March 30, 1927, the son of Joe Max and Lora Jemima (Rees) Goodlander. He was born at the home of his paternal grandparents in Drakesville, Iowa. He moved with his parents at the age of two to Washington, Iowa. Joe was educated in the Washington schools and graduated from Washington High School. He served honorably in the Engineering Corps of the United States Army from 1945 until 1947, where he attained the rank of Corporal. He served one year in the Philippine Islands. Joe was united in marriage to Rosamond Elaine Sojka on Febraury 26, 1950. They were the parents of four daughters. They made their home in rural Washington, rural Kinross, rural Riverside and rural Wellman. Joe was employed in his younger years at Westphal Jewelers and Grecian Jewelry. He worked for Walt Bruty in construction. He also worked for several area farmers as well as Miller Lumber in Wellman. He farmed on his own from 1953 until 1978 in the Riverside area. After retirement from farming he worked as a water plant operator for the city of Washington and at Mason’s True Value Hardware. He built their retirement home west of Washington in 1978. Joe was a member of Prairie Flower Baptist Church where he sang in the church choir and served as a youth sponsor. He was also a member of the Washington County Genealogical Society, the Washington County Farm Bureau and was a past member of the Isaac Walton League. He especially enjoyed spending time with his children, grandchildren and great grandchildren. In his earlier years, he enjoyed hunting and fishing. After retirement he loved camping. He and Rosamond traveled extensively in their RV to Canada, Mexico and to 46 of the lower 48 states. He also loved working jigsaw puzzles. Joe was a master woodworker and made hundreds of woodworking projects for his family members. He is survived by his wife, Rosamond of Washington, Iowa; four daughters, Connie (John) Maw of Muscatine, Iowa; Carolyn (Paul) Bennett of Nokesville, Virginia; Darla (Steven) Koon of Galloway, Ohio; and Delaina (Kerry) Stripling of Mason City, Iowa; fourteen grandchildren, and twenty two great grandchildren. He is also survived by two brothers, Lee Goodlander of Fayetteville, Arkansas; and John (Yun) Goodlander of Washington, Iowa; as well as three sisters-in-law, Darlene Kelley, Frances McGaffey, Lovila Jane Rinaldo as well as many nieces and nephews. Joe was preceded in death by his parents, J. Max and Lora (Rees) Goodlander, two sisters-in-law, and four brothers-in-law.