Joseph A. Iliff's Obituary
Joseph A. Iliff, age 88, passed away peacefully on Friday, December 29th at Genesis East Medical Center, Davenport. A memorial service will be held at 11:00AM, Thursday, January 4, 2018 at the Camanche Chapel Snell-Zornig Funeral Home. Visitation will be held from 10:00AM until the service hour Thursday at the funeral home. Online condolences may be expressed by visiting snellzornig.com.
He was born March 22, 1929 in Camanche, Iowa, the youngest child of Merlin and Viola (Hugunin) Iliff. He was educated in the Camanche schools and took his carpentry apprenticeship with Andy Thomsen. He later formed his own construction company, building over 28 homes in the Camanche area as well as numerous garages, apartment buildings, and commercial and agricultural buildings. He was a perfectionist at his trade and it was said of him that he could build anything or figure out a way to do so.
Like many Camanche boys of his generation, Joe was an avid baseball player and was signed for a tryout with the Aberdeen Pheasants, the farm team for what was then the St. Louis Browns.
Joe was married in 1947 to the former Barbara Brauer whom he later divorced. They had two daughters together, JoAnn Hutton and Bonnie Steinhauer. He later married Sharilyn Holke in Geneseo, Illinois.
Following his retirement, Joe enjoyed building small wood crafts, playing pool with friends at the Ericksen Center and spending time playing with his beloved dog Rosie who he adored and who adored him.
Joe is survived by his wife of 41 years, Sharilyn, daughters JoAnn Hutton of Racine, Wisconsin, and Bonnie Steinhauer of Carlsbad, California, grandson Christopher (Krysta) Hutton, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, granddaughter Tenley Steinhauer Barajas, Carlsbad, California, and six great-grandchildren, as well as numerous nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents, two brothers, and two sisters.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Clinton Humane Society or to the Alzheimer’s Association.
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