Joe A. Festervan

Joe A. Festervan

BENTON, LA - Mr. Joe A. Festervan, 89, passed away on Tuesday, May 3, 2011. Visitation will be held from 4:00 until 7:00 p.m. on Friday, May 6, at Osborn Funeral Home. Funeral services will begin at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday, May 7, 2011, at Spirit Wind Ministries. Officiating will be Pastor Bobbie Deen of Spirit Wind Ministries and Pastor Chaplain Bossier Parish Sheriff's Office, Billy Pierce. Interment will follow at Union Springs Cemetery, south of Shongaloo, Louisiana.

Born in Shongaloo, Louisiana, Joe spent 50 years as a resident of the Shreveport-Bossier and Benton area. He was born to James and Blanche Davis, the eldest of six children. He grew up in a rural area on a farm during the depression era and his wartime experiences greatly shaped the man he would become. Joe was a member of Spirit Wind Ministries. He was also a member of various organizations including, the Masonic Lodge, Scottish Rite, El Karubah Shriners, Royal Order of Jesters, Bossier Parish Sherriff Executive Board and numerous other organizations.

Joe entered the army at Camp Maxey, Paris, Texas in 1942 at the age of 21. He served for three years during WWII in the 250th Field Artillery Battalion as a gunner under the command of General Patton's Third Army and General Patch's Seventh Army. Battle and Campaigns include: Normandy, Northern France, Rhineland and Central Europe. He was honored with the following awards Rifle Marksman, Victory Medal, Good Conduct, Occupation Medal, American Campaign, European Medal with Silver Star, Army Presidential Unit Citation, Army Meritorious Unit Commendation, French Jubilee of Liberty Medal, Cross of Lorraine and French Coix de Guerre. On September 28, 2010 The French Republic named Joe "Chevalier" of the Legion of Honor.

After Joe was discharged from the army he returned home to Louisiana. After a few years working in the oil industry, he was asked to invest in a new venture and that was the beginning of ICEE Distributors, Inc. He sold the first ICEE in the United States in the Shreveport-Bossier City area. With his hard work, dedication and desire to achieve, he built a company that has become the most successful family owned ICEE Company in the United States. He became and will always be affectionately known by all as "The ICEE Man".

In 1983 at the age of 63, Joe began his dream of returning to his roots by purchasing a farm. Festervan Farms became a direct result of Joe's great love and respect for the land. He was a true conservationist before it became popular to be a conservationist. He felt strongly that land should be passed on to the next generation in the same shape or better condition. Joe began a very successful cattle breeding program that included Beefmaster, Braunveigh and Brangus that continued for more than 20 years. He is also responsible for bringing the first Charolais bulls, which were developed in France, into Webster Parish and helped begin the crossbreeding of that line in the 1950's.

In his later years, out of his love for the Lord, Joe built a church, Spirit Wind Ministries, to honor our Savior Jesus Christ.

Joe continued to thrive on challenges. In the winter of his life he made a bold decision to begin a wildlife preserve on The Shady Creek Ranch in South Texas. He developed a water tank system designed to groom the land and encourage wildlife including deer, quail, turkey and other animals, to return and thrive. He expanded his circle of friends and loved ones by spending time in Fredericksburg, Texas. He will be greatly missed by all.

Mr. Festervan was preceded in death by his parents, James Festervan and Blanche Davis Festervan; his sister, Marlene Lee; brothers, Dalton and Darvin Festervan; and his son, Joe A. Festervan, Jr. He is survived by his daughters, Julie Festervan and Dawn Mangham; sons, Tony Festervan and Dan Festervan; grandchildren, Ashley, Bonnie, Matthew, Sarah, Cole, Suzanne, James, Daniel, Rebecca, Katie, Alison, Alicia, Alexandra, Stuart and Jacob; great-grandchildren, Carter, Dalton, Dylan, Brooke, Bailey, Emma and Jake; sisters, Margaret Berley, Burlene Baumann; his niece, Marcia Baumann; and nephew, David Baumann.

Pallbearers will be Larry Deen, Russel Jones, Lynn Beaty, Wayne Davis, Wayne Moseley, Bruce Baumann, Matthew Sutton and Hunter Caskey.

Honorary pallbearers will be Judge Gayle Hamilton, Dudley Davis, Jerry Davis, Lloyd Bearfoot, Jimmie Silvio, Jimmy Davis, Jr., K. C. Whitmore, Heath Deen, Bill Wiseman, James Chapman and the members of the Bossier Sheriff's Executive Board

The family requests that memorials be made to Spirit Wind Ministries.

The family would like to express their sincere appreciation to Dr. Sanders Hearne and especially Dr. Dan Moller for his genuine friendship and medical care.