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BORN
1936
DIED
2021
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Joseph Millard Obituary
West Des Moines - Joe Millard was born on April 6, 1936 in Greene County and died June 10, 2021 in Des Moines, IA. The son of Glen and Cecelia Millard, Joe attended rural one-room schoolhouses for grades 1 to 8 and graduated from Jefferson High School in 1954. He served two years aboard the USS Yorktown in the Far East.
Joe reconnected with high school friend Fran Carey while attending college. Their marriage of 63 years was built on their shared love of reading, politics, traveling and most of all - friendship and family. In their later years, they enjoyed visiting their children and grandchildren across the country.
As a lifelong learner, Joe earned several degrees including a Bachelor's, Master's and Ph.D. After a few years as a high school teacher and principal, Joe served as the Director of Educational Services at Heartland Area Education Agency. Following his retirement in 1996, he worked as an Outreach Coordinator for the Iowa Department of Education.
Joe had a passion for storytelling and several of his essays, poems and memoirs have appeared in state and regional journals, magazines and newspapers. He published four books, Seeing Through Gray Colored Lens, The Quiet Journey, Where Did All the Cowboys Go? and Savor the Seasons.
Joe is survived by his wife; children, Peg (Randy) Asmus of MI, Mark (Traci) Millard of CO, Julie DeVader of KS and Katie (Mark) McWhirter of AZ; 10 grandchildren and one great grandchild; two brothers and one sister; and many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents and brother.
In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorial contributions be made to the El Salvador Ministry at St. Boniface Catholic Church in Waukee, IA or to a non-profit organization of your choice. The full obituary can be found at www.HamiltonsFuneralHome.com.
Visitation will be held Monday, June 21 from 4 to 6 p.m. at Edgewater, 9225 Cascade Ave. in West Des Moines. A Celebration of Joe's Life and Mass will be held at 11 a.m. Tuesday, June 22 at St. Boniface Catholic Church, 1200 Warrior Lane in Waukee, IA. The family will receive guests one hour prior. Private burial services will be held at the St. Patrick's Cemetery in Greene County, IA at a later date.
To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.
Memories and Condolences
for Joseph Millard
Sponsored by Hamilton's Funeral Home on Westown Parkway.
1 Entry
Carolyn Sears
June 14, 2021
I had so much respect for him with the way he headed the AEA Ed Services Dept. and the respect he showed to everyone. I was so sad the day they announced at a meeting that he was retiring - yet happy that he was going to have time to do the things he wanted to do. I purchased a book or two he wrote, and you could almost hear his voice when you read them. He and I both attended one room schools and had many fun conversations about him. The world has lost a good man. God bless him and his family left to cherish his memory.
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