Joe Griffiths
Joe Garfield Griffiths, son of James “Gene” and Garnet Griffiths, passed away late Thursday evening on December 5, 2024, at Harmony of Marshalltown where he lived for the last 18 months of his long and happy 89-year life. Joe was born on September 9, 1935, in Keosauqua, IA. As a child his parents moved the family, including his siblings Mary Jean and Richard to Marshall County in pursuit of richer soil for farming. After graduating State Center High School, he attended Iowa State College before following in his father’s footsteps and becoming a farmer. Joe was set up on a blind date by his best buddy, Larry Southard, where he met and began dating Mary Jackson of Marshalltown. Joe and Mary were inseparable for the rest of their lives. On August 14, 1955, he married the love of his life at First Methodist Church in Marshalltown. They spent 69 happy years together before Mary’s passing in September of this year. Joe spent most of his married years on a farm outside of Clemons, IA raising crops, animals, but most importantly, children. Beginning in 1958, Joe and Mary became parents of three children: John, Martha, and Timothy.
Joe was always quick with a joke, he always knew how to make a short story long, and he never let the truth get in the way of a good story. He will be remembered for his infectious laughter, which didn’t get quieter with age. In his later years, he loved becoming papa Joe. He enjoyed spoiling his grandchildren and spending time with them on his farm. He let them bring the farm kitties into the house and he and the grandkids got into plenty of trouble according to Grandma Honey, who always was the more reasonable one of the two.
While on the farm, Joe was a member of the United Church of Christ in Clemons. In later years, Joe became a member of Hope United Methodist Church in Marshalltown. He also enjoyed music; he sang in his church choir and the Marshalltown Men’s Chorus for many years. He and his granddaughter, Emma, sang a song in church every year for 18 years near his wedding anniversary. Along with farming, Joe spent several years driving the school bus for the West Marshall school district and delivering mail to rural routes for State Center. He was blessed with lifelong friends with whom he went on many adventures and shared lots of laughter. He took countless trips with his family to Lake of the Ozarks and Afton Alps; the family loved skiing both on water and snow. They also shared many laughs with their Saturday card party group. He was a very generous many who spent much of his retirement growing a garden of vegetables to donate to the food pantry in Marshalltown.
He is survived by his children; John (Darla) Griffiths of Waukee, IA, Marti Griffiths of Des Moines, IA, and Tim (Trina) Griffiths of Marietta, GA, his grandchildren; Emma Griffiths of Des Moines, Katherine Griffiths of Atlanta, GA, Jacob (Amanda) Griffiths of Lakewood, CO, and Jackson Griffiths of Jacksonville, FL, one brother, Richard Griffiths of Farmington, NM, and many nieces and nephews, who he cared for greatly. He was preceded in death by his wife, his favorite person, Mary Ella Griffiths, who passed away this fall, his parents, his sister-in-law and brother-in-law, Ruth and Garol Cooling, brother-in-law and sister, Don and Mary Jean Sparks, and his sister-in-law, Mary Griffiths.
Memorial services will be 10:30 a.m., Saturday, January 11, 2025, at Hope United Methodist Church in Marshalltown. Visitation will be 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m., Friday, January 10, 2025, at Anderson Funeral Homes in Marshalltown. Further arrangements are pending with Anderson Funeral Homes of Marshalltown. Online condolences may be sent to www.andersonfhs.com.