Obituary of Joseph Aloysious Lansing

Joseph A. Lansing, 88, of, Dyersville, Iowa died Sunday, February 28, 2016, at Oakcrest Manor in Dyersville. Visitation will be held from 2:00 to 8:00 p.m. Wednesday, March 2, 2016, at Kramer Funeral Home, 750 12th Ave SW in Dyersville where a parish vigil service will be held at 2:00 p.m. and a rosary will be recited at 4:00 p.m. Visitation will continue Thursday from 9:00 to 10:00 a.m. at Kramer Funeral Home prior to funeral services. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:30 a.m. Thursday March 3, 2016, at St. Francis Xavier Basilica, Dyersville, Iowa with burial in the church cemetery. Rev. Jeffery Dole will officiate and Rev. Al Vorwald and Rev. Richard Gaul will concelebrate. Joseph was born October 12, 1927, in Dyersville, Iowa the son of Lawrence and Amanda (Gaul) Lansing. He attended the St. Francis Independent Country School. Joe worked on the family farm and for Jack Light Construction Company. He married Ruth M. Klosterman on June 21, 1951, at St. Francis Xavier Basilica. Together they farmed east of Dyersville. Joe loved the land as he was a very conscientious farmer. There wasn’t anything he couldn’t fix. He worked for Koelker implement and later worked for Theisen’s in the small engine department. After he retired, Joe loved to tinker with old gas engines and he loved taking things apart and putting them back together. He had a tree farm, where he planted over 1000 trees every year and took great pride in his garden. Joe and Ruth had a great devotion to the Blessed Virgin, and they maintained the grotto on Dyersville East Road for over 50 years. He was a member of the St. Francis Xavier Parish and worked at Xavier Bingo for 30 years. Joe was also a member of the “Little G” club. Survivors include 2 children: Diane Lucas (Fiancé Ray Huegerich) of Breda, IA, and Dan (Deb) Lansing of Dyersville; seven grandchildren: Greg (Mary) Lucas, Amy (Jake) Van Scoyoc, Sarah (Andy) Johnston, Steve (Carmen) Lansing, Tom (Mandi) Lucas, Kevin (Molly) Lansing and Kelly (Eric) Klein; 15 great grandchildren; siblings: Arthur (Bernice) Lansing, Jerome (Mary Margaret) Lansing both of Dyersville, William (Joan) Lansing of Worthington, John (Rita) Lansing of Farley, Catherine (Hugo) Engelken of Petersburg, Verna Rose (LeRoy) Bries of Guttenberg, in-laws: Leon (Betty) Mullis of Waterloo, Vera Kroeger and Lila Clemen; Lorraine Klosterman and Verna Klosterman, all of Dyersville, son-in-law, Rick Lucas, of DeWitt. He was preceded in death by his parents, his wife, Ruth in 2014, 2 children: Steve in infancy and Karen in a tractor accident in 1967; his parents-in-law, Alfred and Rose (Olberding) Klosterman, siblings: Wilma Mullis, Fr. Augustine Dreiling, O.S.B., in-laws: Virginia Klosterman, Rita (Jim) Deutmeyer, Art Klosterman and Alfred Klosterman; Gary Kroeger, Vince Clemen. In Lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred to St. Francis Xavier Basillica. A special thanks to all the staff at Oakcrest Manor and Hospice of Dubuque for the wonderful care of their dad and mom. Online condolences may be left for the family at www.kramerfuneral.com.