Joseph E. Maher

The Public is invited to join the family at St. Ann Catholic Cemetery, Vail, for the graveside service Saturday, May 30, 2020, at 2 P.M. maintaining social distancing.
Joseph Edwin Maher was born March 22, 1959 to Edwin Clarence Maher and Kathleen Rosemarie Maher at St. Anthony’s Hospital in Carroll, Iowa. Joe passed away suddenly from complications of an intestinal surgery on May 23, 2020 at Avera McKennan Hospital & University Health Center in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. He attained the age of 61 years and 62 days.
He was raised on the family farm north of Manilla, Iowa. He attended Manilla Community Schools through the 8th Grade and then attended Kuemper Catholic High School in Carroll, IA graduating with the class of 1977.
Joe struggled bravely with mental illness much of his life. He lived several places including Colorado, Nebraska and Iowa. At the time of his death, he was residing at The Pride Group in Primghar, Iowa.
Joe loved attending family gatherings, and visiting with extended family and friends of family. He loved listening to music, painting at times, playing bingo and cards. He was often bold with his card hands and was never reluctant to go it alone.
Whenever any of us visited Joe, he would usually suggest meeting around lunch time. Joe always enjoyed good food and usually knew the best places to eat wherever he was living. His favorite foods included fried chicken or a hearty piece of steak. Joe always found room for dessert and seconds too. Joe enjoyed a good meal and sharing one with him lifted everyone’s spirits.
Joe had the infectious Maher “Machine Gun” laugh that everyone loved. Joe had a smile that would light up a room. Sometimes he liked to test the room with something a bit outrageous to see if he could get a reaction. He usually could not contain his smile from giving his real intentions away. Joe enjoyed a good conversation, was a deep thinker and very caring.
Joe liked to reminisce about high school and growing up on the farm. He loved the farm and working with his father and learning the business of raising hogs.
Joe was preceded in death by his parents, Edwin and Kathleen, a nephew Flynn Michael Day and a great niece Mikayla. Joe was survived by six sisters, Jean, Susan and husband Bob, Sharon and husband Denny, Mary Jane and husband Richard, Marian, and Rosemary and husband Mitch, and one brother John and wife Nicola. He is also survived by many nieces and nephews, great nieces and nephews, other relatives and friends.
The family is requesting that in lieu of flowers that memorials be made to the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI). Donations can be made online at https://www.nami.org/About-NAMI/Donate-to-NAMI.