Obituaries : Joseph Edward Stablein

Joseph Edward Stablein, 88, of Coon Rapids, Iowa, passed away surrounded by his family on Tuesday, Feb. 22, 2022, at Thomas Rest Haven in Coon Rapids.

Mass of the Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday, March 1, at Annunciation Catholic Church in Coon Rapids with Father Patrick Behm as celebrant. Music for the Mass will be by the Annunciation choir with Diane Slater as organist and grandson Trevor Howell as soloist. Lector will be Martha Stout. Gift bearers will be Isabelle and Adeline Phipps. Casket bearers will be Nick Pflug, Brandon Pflug, Ben Phipps, Brad Phipps, Trevor Howell, Elisa Tonne, Vanessa Darden, Cassidi Howell, Gwendalyn Thompson and Amelia Thompson. Burial will be at Union Township Cemetery near Coon Rapids with military honors by the Coon Rapids American Legion and the Iowa National Guard.

Visitation will be from 5-7 p.m. Monday at Dahn and Woodhouse Funeral Home in Coon Rapids. Visitation without greeting the family will be from from 9:30-10:15 a.m. Tuesday at Annunciation Catholic Church.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorials be made to the White Rock Conservancy and may be left with the funeral home or at the church.

Funeral arrangements are under the direction of Dahn and Woodhouse Funeral Home in Coon Rapids, and online condolences may be left for the family at www.dahnandwoodhouse.com.

Joe was born on March 28, 1933, in Galesburg, Illinois, and was a son of George and Helen (Tracy) Stablein. Joe grew up in Galesburg where he graduated from Corpus Christi Catholic High School. Joe was drafted into the U.S. Army following high school and served two years. Following his military service he attended Western Illinois University and Knoxville College in Galesburg. Joe held a master's degree in education and taught school in Gurney, Illinois, Montrose, Colorado, Onawa, Iowa, Lincoln, Illinois, and Coon Rapids, where he served as principal.

Joe was married to Gwendolyn (Scheer) Pflug on Feb. 16, 1985. Joe and Gwen every summer for 20 years traveled to Colorado where he worked as a seasonal forest ranger for the U.S. Forest Service. Joe retired in 2001, and they enjoyed traveling to see their children in Montana and New York.

Joe enjoyed reading, raising horses, his dogs Kara and Heidi, hiking, writing, spending time outdoors, and telling stories, which touched many lives and changed each time they were told.

Joe is survived by his wife: Gwen, of Coon Rapids; his son Dal Stablein of Carroll and daughter Kerri Howell (Scott) of Buffalo, New York; Gwen's children: Matt Pflug (Sandra) of Ames, Kristi Phipps (Bryan) of Atkins, Iowa, and Jennifer Pflug (Tom Thompson) of Billings, Montana; 10 grandchildren; 10 great-grandchildren; a sister: Jane Lee (Larry), of Galesburg, Illinois; two brothers: Fred Stablein of California and Ron Stablein (Gladys) of St. Clair, Michigan; two sisters-in-law: Joyce Pendley (LeRoy) of Fremont, Nebraska, and Martha Andersen (Steve) of Arlington, Nebraska; and several nieces, nephews, and other extended family members.

He was preceded in death by his parents: George and Helen Stablein; and granddaughter Kelsey Pflug.