Obituaries : Joseph L. Healy

Joseph L. Healy

VINTON – Joseph L. “Joe” Healy, 94, died Saturday, November 15, 2014, at the Vinton Lutheran Home.
Mass of Christian Burial will be held 11:00 a.m. Saturday, November 22, 2014, at St. Mary Catholic Church in Vinton with Father Ardel Barta as Celebrant. Visitation will be held from 4 to 7 p.m. Friday, November 21, at Van Steenhuyse-Russell Funeral Home in Vinton with a Scripture Service at 4 p.m. Visitation will also be held for an hour before Mass at the church on Saturday. Interment will be in Forest Lawn Cemetery, Seattle, Washington.
Joe was born February 23, 1920, in Seattle, Washington, the son of Dennis and Sophie Dilg Healy. He graduated from a Catholic high school in Seattle. After graduation, he married Lucille and started his family, with son John being born before he joined the Navy. He and Lucille later divorced.
Joe proudly served his country in the United States Navy during WWII as a Radio Technician. He enlisted in 1944 and was discharged in 1946.
Joe began working for Alcoa at the age of 19 and retired as Vice President of Finance & Administration in 1975 after 35 years of service.
On December 18, 1982, Joe was united in marriage with Geraldine Hendryx Rinehart at The Little Brown Church in Nashua, Iowa. They met while they were both serving in the Navy.
Joe was a member of St. Mary Catholic Church in Vinton and was a member of Knights of Columbus.
Joe was very active in his community and the surrounding areas. He served as the Chairman of the Benton County Task Force; on the Boards for Kirkwood Community College and Habitat for Humanity; participated in the Older Iowans Legislature; and was a two-time recipient of the Governor’s Award.
Joe is survived by his wife of 31 years, Geraldine Healy, of Vinton; two sons: John Healy of Lynchburg, VA, and Tom Healy of The Arbor, Louisiana; one daughter: Nancy Healy of Seattle, WA; one grandchild and one great-grandchild; step-son Michael (Phyllis) Rinehart of Irving; step-daughter Ellen Rinehart of Harrison, AR; daughter-in-law Pam Santic of Champagne-Urbana, IL; and step-son-in-law Tom Stark of Bruce, WI.
He was preceded in death by his parents; son David Healy; 6 brothers; 2 sisters; and step-daughter Sally Stark.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to the Haiti Project, St. Mary Catholic Church, Vinton.
Van Steenhuyse-Russell Funeral Home of Vinton is caring for Joseph and his family. Condolences may be left at vsrfh.com.