Joseph Ibach

Joseph H. Ibach, 83, Bismarck, died Aug. 26, 2003, at his home. Services will be held at noon Friday at Church of St. Mary, Bismarck, with the Rev. Bruce Krebs officiating. Burial will be in Menoken City Cemetery.

Visitation will be held from noon to 9 p.m. today at Bismarck Funeral Home, with a vigil and time of sharing at 7 p.m. Visitiation will continue one hour prior to the services at the church.

Joseph was born Jan. 7, 1920, in Dawnson, N.D., to Jacob and Kathryn (Masseth) Ibach. He was educated and reared in Bismarck, attending St. Mary's grade school and high school. Joe was in the CC's and national guard. When World War II was declared, he enlisted along with his future brother-in-law, Fay Wrangham.

He served four years in the Pacific then came home and married Caroline Roberson in 1945. He worked as head plumbing engineer on the Garrison Dam right from the start. He reinlisted in 1951, and moved Caroline and their three daughters to Colorado, until he was restationed in Germany for three years, where he moved his wife and daughters. He was then stationed at Fort Benning, Ga., where he reared seven children. From Fort Benning, he served in Korea and in 1965, he was part of the first big troop movement in Viet Nam. He won two bronze stars while there, one in the Battle of Da Drang Valley, which was publicized in the book and movie "We were soliders once and young."

Joe retired from the service in 1969, and ran a gas station in Columbus, Ga., where they lived on Sims Street. In 1975, Joe Carry and boys moved to Bismarck, and he became very involved in building up and expanding the VFW. He served as manager and commander of the VFW for many years. He was also active in the VFW Honor Guard and was very proud of them.

Joe was a big man who lived life on his terms, making changes. He and Caroline were married almost 60 years. He loved his family and he also loved playing cards with everyone and anyone.

Joe leaves behind his wife, Caroline; three daughters, Gerry Ann and Gary Small, Baldwin, Kathy and Thomas Parsons, Columbus, and Carry and Mike John, Ahthol, Idaho; three sons, J.J. Ibach, Dickinson, Fred and Cindy Ibach, Mandan, and Dan and Shirley Ibach, Lincoln; 18 grandchildren; eight great-grandchildren; one brother, Ernie and Cleo, Mandan; two sisters, Anna Wrangham and Hattie and Bert Bender, all of Las Vegas; and numerous nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents; and one daughter and son-in-law, Fran and Neil Thom.