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Joseph Rawls Obituary
Forever in My Heart
Gone, yet not forgotten
Although we are apart
Your spirit lives within me
Forever in my heart
Joseph B. Rawls, 53, passed away Saturday, July 28, 2012.
He was born in Montgomery, Alabama on May 29, 1959 to James Buford and Harriet Faulk Rawls.
Joe is survived by his wife, Angela, and step-daughter Hannah; his sister, Leellen (Andy) Willis and many aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews and friends.
Joe lived most of his life in Millbrook, AL, graduating from Stanhope Elmore High School in 1977. There he was Student Council President and played trombone in the
band program, participating in the marching, stage, and concert bands. He attended Troy State School of Nursing, but got his nursing degree from a regents program. He was a Registered Nurse in Alabama, Mississippi, Colorado and Utah, working at various hospitals, home health and hospice agencies. Joe also worked as a Paramedic with the Millbrook Fire Department and was an EMT/Paramedic Instructor at Trenholm State Technical College. As a boy, Joe enjoyed Boy Scouts and as an adult he volunteered as a Scout Master. Joe was a proud member of the Masonic Lodge. He also enjoyed short wave radio, meeting friends from all over. In 2006, he moved to Lehi, Utah to be with Angela and continue his nursing career with Intermountain Homehealth.
Joe was preceded in death by his mother and father, and beloved grandparents.
A memorial service will be held on Thursday, August 2 at 6:00 p.m. at Saint Thomas More Catholic Church, 3015 E Creek Rd, Sandy, UT.
In lieu of flowers, please make donations to Angels Hands Foundation at angelshands.org.
To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.
Memories and Condolences
for Joseph Rawls
Sponsored by anonymous.
December 23, 2019
To those who still visit this page, thank you for remembering Joe. To the person who paid to have this page remain open, thank you. The words left here by so many friends and family are still a comfort to me. And to those who have taken the time to write the comforting, humorous and thoughtful memories of Joe, I can't express the gratitude I have for all of you.
Merry Christmas.
Love, Angela
Chip Hartin
March 11, 2018
I didn't know Joe had passed. I had an argument with my wife and I said that Joe Rawls had the very best recipe for camp (Boy Scout) chili. He will be remembered as a very fine man even though I never got his chili recipe. Joe also spent a lot of time on HAM radio. NRRL or some variation. I hope that I am able to continue his legacy regarding the Boy Scouts, chili cook offs, and Boy Scout leadership that he exemplified. More leaders need to be like him.
Angela
July 28, 2013
It was one year ago tonight (7/28/12) I received the terrible news that you had died in a car accident. I miss you so much, and still can't imagine my life without you. Somewhere, the connection between my head and my heart just isn't there, because I can't believe you will not come walking through that door and everything will be alright.
You are missed every day, and will always be loved. May you continue to rest peacefully in the comforting arms of the angels, sweetheart. ?
July 26, 2013
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Angela
July 24, 2013
Angela
July 24, 2013
Latecia Thomson
August 19, 2012
Angie and Hannah, I feel a huge void in my heart and can't imagine how you must feel. Joe was more a brother than a cousin and we shared a lot of love. I still feel his love around me and know his spirit lives on. Love you both!
Jim Fraunfelder
August 5, 2012
To the Rawls family.I knew and worked with Joe at the Prattville ER. He was a Pleasure to work with . There was never a dull moment with Joe in the ER. He was a good RN and he will be missed.
Mary Frances & David Garner
August 4, 2012
Our Elmore County and hometown Millbrook mourns the passing of one of our finest men. Joe Rawls will live forever in our hearts as we recall his love for Stanhope Elmore H.S. Band, Robinson Springs Methodist Church, his love for faith, family and friends speaks out all across the country as tributes pour in honoring his life. We're blessed to call him friend! Lee,Angela & Hannah, our thoughts and prayers are with you during the difficult days ahead. Thank you God for Joe's life and how he lived each day to its fullest! A lesson to us all. God bless you.
Beverly Taylor Horne
August 4, 2012
Lee,
I am so sorry to hear of your loss. My prayers are with you & the family at this time.
Ashley Moon
August 3, 2012
When the time was opened up for anyone to say something about Joe at his memorial service, I'd like to have been un-shy enough, and think fast enough to say this. But alas, I didn't have it together until about a half hour following the service:
Hi, I work in the same building Joe used to. I'm the budgeting guy. For a short period, Joe had a managerial position, and everyone in a managerial position has to meet with the budget guy at least once. He met with me exactly once. I can echo what I've heard numerous times now, that when I was talking to him I was the most important person in his world. It wasn't that I was talking to him about anything interesting. I was talking about revenue, deductions, volume adjusted budgets, and overhead allocations. Many of you knew Joe better than I did. Does anyone think he had even the slightest interest in those things? Sure, he was good to his family - showed them respect, made them feel important and cared for. Sure, he was good to his patients - showed them respect, made them feel important and cared for. Sure he was good to his friends, whether he gathered them at church, short wave radio, the Masonic lodge, scouts, wherever. But the tribute I can give to Joe, that no one else can, is that during the one time he met with me, about lifeless numbers on a page, he was good to me - showed me respect, made me feel important and cared for. Thank you Joe. Thank you for being very much alive. You are now free to be with all of us always. Thank you for being our friend.
John Allen
August 3, 2012
You were a great mentor and a wonderful person to be around. I will always cherish the memories we shared from being in Boy Scouts, and the knowledge that you passed on to me and the others. May God send flights of angels to carry you home.
Brian Kravitz
August 3, 2012
I cannot tell you the shock I felt when I found out this morning. Joe was definitely one of a kind. A good, kind, thoughtful and loving person. We go back many years together although I lost track of him when he moved to Utah. May G-d Bless your family during this difficult time. He will be remembered.
Laura
August 2, 2012
Joe is a wonderful man. His humor and kindess will be missed. I am sorry for your loss. We all will miss him at Homecare.
Keiji Oda
August 2, 2012
Dear Lee:
I was truly sorry to hear of the loss of your brother.
Please allow me to extend my deepest sympathies to you and your family as you struggle through this period of shock and grief.
Annamarie Wendlandt Jones
August 2, 2012
Lee,
My sympathies extend to you on the loss of your brother Joe.
Brenda Hume
August 2, 2012
To Angie, Hannah, and family. Joe was truly one of a kind. He was the exception to the exception. I don't know why God needed Joe at this time and I'm having a very difficult time dealing with the tremendous loss I feel right now. I will miss Joe beyond what I can put into words. May he rest in peace and may God be with you at this most difficult time. With love...
Carol Edelen
August 2, 2012
To Angie,Hannah,and Lee. I am truly sorry for your lose. Joe touched lives everywhere he went. You seldomly saw Joe without a smile and a kind word. I feel truly blessed to have had the opportunity to work with him in Prattville and even moreso to be able to call him "friend". My thoughts and prayers are with you all. May God bless you all.
August 2, 2012
To all of Joe's family:
I grew up with Joe & graduated High School with him in 1977. I was very saddened to hear of his death. Joe always knew what to say and just when to say it. Loving & kind person. I will be praying for the family, as I know this is a very difficult time. May God give you peace, comfort and strength, not only now but in the days ahead. Deepest Sympathy ~
Millie Dennis Brown
Mary Valantine
August 2, 2012
I met Joe when we sat by each other at a meeting for work. I inquired about his tube of hand cream called "udder cream" he was putting on his hands and he had me try some. He said " Udder Creme " was the best for any dry hands. We talked back and forth during breaks and I enjoyed his southern accent. He was the 1st nurse to admit my mother to "Hospice" this last fall 2011. He was efficient, kind and a good nurse and human being. On one Hospice visit, my sister asked if he wanted a fresh baked cookie, and Joe's reply was " Does a pig have a butt?" We all laughed.
Joe was a good man, kind, empathetic and a good human being. He will be deeply missed! My heart-felt condolences to his family.
Liz Paravicini
August 2, 2012
Angie and Hannah, I grew up with Joe in Millbrook starting in elementary school and graduated with him from Stanhope Elmore. I am in shock over his death, as I know you are. I Facebooked with Joe recently to see if he would be attending our Super Reunion that we had in April. He told me about how much he enjoyed living in Utah and about how different it was from Alabama. I'm so glad that he was happy in Utah and with his family there. We all greve with you over this sudden loss. Please accept my sincere sympathy.
Randy Heaps
August 1, 2012
I had the pleasure of really getting to know Joe, Angie and Hannah while they came in for their weekly breakfast at Johanna's Kitchen. I was frequently their server when they would come in, and throughout the years I become good friends with Joe and the family. I even had the pleasure of them making the trek out to Flordia to see me because I had no family out there. I will really miss his hospitality and most defiantly his laugh! Sean and I will sure miss ya! R.I.P. my friend!
Marian Jones
August 1, 2012
Angie, I am so sorry about your loss, I worked with Joe in Intermountain Home Care, he was a wonderful and caring person, an amazing nurse full of compassion. He will be forever present in our hearts.
Ira and Gloria Kupferberg
August 1, 2012
My wife and I both worked with Joe in Prattville, Al. He was a delight to work with. He was a lot of fun to be with and you couldn't ask for a better nurse in a crisis. All our acquaintances that knew Joe are saddened by his death.our condolences. To his family.
Debbie & George Snideman
August 1, 2012
Angie, we're so sorry for your loss. We hope you find comfort and peace during this hard time. May God bless you, Hannah and all of Joe's family.
Anita Sanders-Linneman
August 1, 2012
You always had a smile and kind word to say about anything and anyone. Your smile always warmed my heart. You will always be remembered for your smile and kindness to others. Love to your family and especially to your sister Lee whom I graduated with and grew up with and have a wonderful memories of.
Doug Stante
August 1, 2012
Our sincere condolences to you and Hanna at thos sad and tragic time. Our hearts are filled with the sorrow of your loss and we pray for you and Joe that you find peace.
Karen Blackmon Stacey
August 1, 2012
My sincere sympathy to Joe's family and friends. I went to Stanhope with him and I always remember him smiling and having fun. He was definitely someone you never forgot. Praying for your family.
HOME CARE EMPLOYEE
August 1, 2012
Rest in peace. Joe will be missed for sure. God bless his family.
Sandra Smuin
August 1, 2012
I am so sorry for you loss. Joe was a big teddy bear. And we miss him very much.
Allyson Hendricksen
August 1, 2012
I worked with Joe at Intermountain Homecare. He was a wonderful nurse and I am so sorry for your and our loss. If there are ham radios in heaven, he'll be on there!
Joseph Thatcher
August 1, 2012
Joe was briefly my supervisor when I was a home health aide for IHC. He was an amazing nurse, with a kind demeanor. Joe was tons of fun to work with. Patients loved it when he visited them. I looked up to him. May he rest in peace and may god bless those that mourn him!
August 1, 2012
Angela and Hannah, you are in our thoughts and prayers every day. I wish there was something we could do to make the pain go away but hope you find peace knowing what a loving man Joe was. Joe has a new job now and that's watching over you both. Love you, Steve & Anna
Suzie Lemacks
July 31, 2012
My sincere sympathies and heartfelt thoughts during this difficult time. So saddened to hear of Joe's death. He is and will continue to be missed.
Elizabeth Bosch
July 31, 2012
May God bless you and your family in this time of sorrow.
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