Joseph Demeter

Joseph W. Demeter, 75 of Mt. Pleasant, IA, died, Tuesday, January 8, 2008, at the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics in Iowa City. Visitation will begin after 2:00 p.m. on Friday, January 11, 2008, at St. Alphonsus Catholic Church, where a Knights of Columbus Rosary will be recited at 4:00 p.m. The family will receive friends following the rosary. A Christian Vigil will then be held at 7:00 p.m. at the church Friday evening. The funeral mass will be held Saturday, January 12, 2008, at 10:30 a.m. at St. Alphonsus Catholic Church. Interment will be in the St. Alphonsus Cemetery. Memorials have been directed to St. Alphonsus Catholic Church and Hospice of Central Iowa. Born March 16, 1932, in Footedale, PA, Joseph William was the son of John and Mary (Lesondak) Demeter. He graduated from German Township High School in May 1950, and enlisted in the United States Air Force the following month. He served in Lakenheath, England for two years. He attended Indiana Technical College in Fort Wayne, IN, and graduated with a BS degree in Civil Engineering in 1956. On November 29, 1958, he married Theresa Ann Holtz in Manchester, Iowa. Joe was employed by the Iowa Department of Transportation, and served as Resident Construction Engineer in Columbus Junction, Council Bluffs, Fairfield and Mt. Pleasant before retiring in November 1996. Mr. Demeter was ordained as a Permanent Deacon for the Davenport Diocese in June of 1988. He served continuously since that time at St. Alphonsus Catholic Church in Mt. Pleasant. He was very active in prison ministry and visiting the elderly. He also volunteered for RSVP providing transportation for patients and for the AARP preparing taxes for the elderly. He was a member of the Knights of Columbus and was a past Grand Knight. Joe had a passion for gardening, woodworking and making wood crafts. His greatest love was spending time with his family, especially his grandchildren. Joe is survived by his wife Theresa of Mt. Pleasant, IA; two sons, Joseph (Julia) Demeter II of Oakland, CA, and John Demeter of Crawfordsville, IN; five daughters, Cyndi (Bill) Hammes of Wilton, IA, Elaine Demeter of Nashville, TN, Christine (Kirk) Davis of Gilbert, AZ, Michelle Demeter of New London, IA, and Helen (Matt) Bailey of New London, IA; and fifteen grandchildren. Also surviving are two sisters, Elizabeth Hrezo of New Salem, PA, and Mary Louise Eddins of West Palm Beach, FL; and one brother, Andrew (Marge) Demeter of McClellandtown, PA. He was preceded in death by his parents; brothers, Michael, John and Edward Demeter; and by an infant grandson, Matthew Demeter.