Joseph G. Gansemer, 90, of Dubuque passed away on September 27, 2023, at Bethany Home in Dubuque, IA.

Visitation will be from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. on Friday, October 6, 2023, at Leonard Funeral Home and Crematory, 2595 Rockdale Road, with Military Honors accorded at 7:00 p.m. by the American Legion Post #6 of Dubuque.  A memorial service will follow.

Joe was born on April 10, 1933, in Holy Cross, IA, son of Martin and Mary (Clemen) Gansemer.

He graduated from Xavier Catholic High School, Dyersville, IA, in 1952. Joe served in the navy from 1953 – 1957 as a navigator on the U.S.S. Cabildo.

On October 15, 1956, he married Kay Mohr at the Basilica in Dyersville, IA.

He was a carpenter by trade and owned Gansemer Construction Co. from 1979 until he retired in 2011.

He was a member of the landlord and veteran association.

One of Joe’s greatest joys was his granddaughter Kaycee, he loved cruising and teaching her to drive his Mustang convertible called “Joe’s Toy”.  He loved to travel with his wife Kay, and he really enjoyed taking his family to his favorite restaurant, Timmermans.  He always had the biggest Christmas tree in the neighborhood and loved seeing his three daughters together on the holidays, where he loved to sing and harmonize together (we were pretty good at that).

Joe is survived by daughter Barbara “Tasha” (Tom) Owen of Tacoma, WA, daughter Sherri Gansemer of Dubuque, granddaughter Kaycee Ploessl of Dubuque, brother Sylvester (Betty) Gansemer of Dyersville, Sister and brothers-in-law, Shirley and Harland Thillen of Port Lucy, FL, Joann Gansemer of Dubuque, Phyliss Gansemer of Dixon, IL.

He was preceded in death by his parents Martin and Mary Gansemer, his wife Kay, his daughter and son-in-law Carmen and Ron Bunse of Brookfield, MO, brothers, and sisters-in-law Ralph (Lori) Gansemer, Lavern (Kay) Gansemer, Marty Gansemer, Jerry Gansemer, Jack and Jeanette (Gansemer) Neiland, Mike and Mary Ann (Gansemer) Elliott, Robert Gansemer in infancy, brother-in-law Bud Mohr.

In lieu of flowers, A Joe Gansemer memorial fund has been established.  The family would like to thank Bethany Home for all the love and care they gave to dad especially in the last few weeks.  He also enjoyed cocktail hour on Thursday night there.