Funeral services and a Mass of Christian Burial for Joseph L. DeWulf, 95, will be 11 a.m., Saturday, Jan. 30, 2010, at St. Alphonsus Catholic Church, 2618 Boies Ave., Davenport. Burial will be in Davenport Memorial Park. Visitation will be Friday from 4-7 p.m. at the Halligan McCabe DeVries Funeral Home, 614 Main St., Davenport. Joseph died Tuesday, Jan. 26, 2010, at the Davenport Good Samaritan Nursing Home in Davenport.
Memorials may be made to St. Alphonsus Church.
Joseph L. DeWulf was born April 22, 1914, in Victor, a son of Louis and Cordula (Naessens) DeWulf. His mother died from complications from childbirth and his father died shortly after. Joe was raised in St. Vincent’s Center. Around the age of 9, he left St. Vincent’s Center and went to work on the Brus family farm.
He was united in marriage to Hazel Schinckel on Aug. 31, 1940, at St. Joseph’s Church in Davenport. Joe and Hazel did everything together including many home improvement projects and painting barns. Joe and Hazel loved to dance the polka and enjoyed playing cards. Together they raised over 100 parakeets in their basement at one time.
Mr. DeWulf was a machine operator at the former French & Hecht (now Titan Wheel). He retired in 1975 following 32 years of service.
Joe was a member of St. Alphonsus Catholic Church, German-American Pioneer Society, Fraternal Order of Moose No. 28, CASI, Polka Club of Iowa, Plus 60, and the American-Schleswig-Holstein Heritage Society. In his younger years, he enjoyed coaching his son, Don, in Little League on the M. L. Parker team. He also traveled many times to Iowa City to watch the Iowa Hawkeye Basketball Team, and he enjoyed rooting for his beloved Chicago Cubs.
Those left to cherish his memory include his loving wife of nearly 70 years Hazel, a daughter Shirley Kay of Davenport, a son Donald (Sheree) DeWulf of DeWitt; grandchildren, Gina (Pete) Loken, David Kay, Susan Kay, Matt DeWulf, Shawn Holm, Jessie Holm and Brandi Hurning; great-grandchildren, Lauren Loken, Madeline Loken, and Anna Hurning; and many loving nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents, a brother, Prosper DeWulf and a sister, Susie Cowgill. May they rest in peace.
Online remembrances and condolences may be expressed by visiting Joseph’s obituary at www.hmdfuneralhome.com
