Joel F. Punke

Joel F. Punke

(1940-2020)

CLEAR LAKE - Joel F. Punke, 80, of Clear Lake, Iowa, died July 10, 2020 after a long battle with Lewy Body Dementia, at MercyOne North Iowa Hospice.

A funeral service will be held at 11:00 a.m., Wednesday, July 15, 2020, at Ward-Van-Slyke Colonial Chapel, 101 N 4th Street, Clear Lake. Burial will take place in Lincoln Township Cemetery, north of Clear Lake following funeral service.

A public visitation will be held from 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m., Wednesday, July 15, 2020, at Ward-Van Slyke Funeral Home, 101 N 4th Street, Clear Lake, Iowa.

Memorials may be directed towards MercyOne North Iowa Hospice, Mason City, IA.

Joel F. Punke was born on April 10, 1940, in Mason City, Iowa, to parents Gustave E. Punke and Alma (Davis) Punke. He was baptized on April 13, 1941 at Clear Lake United Methodist Church. He grew up on a farm north of Clear Lake where he lived most of his life, attending country school through 8th grade. He was a 1958 graduate of Clear Lake High School and attended Mason City Junior College, Iowa State University, and Truman State University in Missouri.

Joel briefly served as a supply sergeant in the U.S. Army Reserves and began his career in the banking industry at First National Bank in Mason City. He later worked several years at Hancock County National Bank in Garner. A businessman at heart, he went on to start several businesses over the years selling banks, farms, and landfills, among other various ventures. In 1989 he co-founded a medical waste disposal service, GRP & Associates, out of Clear Lake. Joel retired in 2010 with his family continuing to run the business.

He married Patricia Schaben September 7, 1968 in Omaha, NE. Son, Chris was born in 1970 and daughter, Michele in 1973. He divorced in 1981. He married Phyllis (Tannahill) Punke on March 29,1995 in Nashua, IA, and inherited a large family he grew to love just as much as his own.

Joel and Phyllis enjoyed traveling, living part time in Cape Coral, Florida for many years. He greatly enjoyed spending time with family, either traveling or throwing large family get-togethers with food and fireworks. Joel loved to cook, and learned a wide variety of skills from experts in Chinese & French cuisine, and in later years how to make all varieties of gourmet breads. He also dabbled in brewing his own beer and wine. He took up woodworking in retirement and made many furniture pieces as well as restoring old family heirlooms.

He is survived by his wife, Phyllis of Clear Lake; son, Chris (Heather) Punke of Ankeny; daughter, Michele (Tara Hicks) Punke of Portland, OR; step-sons, Steve (Kathy) Rollefson of Forest City, Mike (Becky) Rollefson of Clear Lake; step-daughter, Kim (Brent) Harris of Marion, nephews, James (Jamie) Punke of Ankeny, and Steve Punke of Cedar Falls; sister-in-law, Jane Punke of Nevada, IA; brother-in-law, Ron (Marge) Tannahill of Clear Lake; grandchildren, Ella, Henry, Gabriel, Ava, Nora, Chris, Scott, Brandon, Spencer, Dustin, Logan, Travis, and Brooke; and many great-grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his parents; brother, David G. Punke; and step-son, Rob Rollefson.

Ward-Van Slyke Colonial Chapel 101 N 4th Street, Clear Lake, 641-357-2193, ColonialChapels.com