Joseph "Joe" Graettinger

 In Loving Memory 
 Joseph "Joe" B. Graettinger 
 December 22, 1940 - August 30, 2025 

  A recording of Joe's Funeral Mass is available on the bottom on his obituary page.  

 VISITATION 
 Friday, September 5, 2025 
 10:00 - 11:00 A.M. 
 Immaculate Conception Catholic Church 
 Graettinger, Iowa 

 MASS OF CHRISTIAN BURIAL 
 Friday, September 5, 2025 
 11:00 A.M. 
 Immaculate Conception Catholic Church 
 Graettinger, Iowa 

 CELEBRANT 
 Rev. Paul Kelly 

 Joseph B Graettinger, age 84, passed away on Saturday, August 30, 2025, at SPARC in Spencer, Iowa, surrounded by his loving family. 

 Joseph Bernard Graettinger, son of Ralph and Rosella Graettinger, was born December 22, 1940, on their family farm outside of Graettinger, Iowa. Joe was baptized and confirmed at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Graettinger, Iowa. 

 Joe went to country school before starting high school in Graettinger. In high school, he played football and was involved in FFA. He kept busy outside of class too as he drove a school bus and delivered milk for the Graettinger Dairy. Joe graduated from Graettinger High School in 1959. 

 In January 1962, Joe was enlisted into the Army National Guard until he was honorably discharged in May 1972. 

 After graduating high school, Joe began working for Howard Suss Electrical, where he stayed until August of 1964. He then joined Firestone Tire, eventually becoming a store manager in Norfolk, Nebraska, Fort Dodge, Iowa, and Marshalltown, Iowa, a role he held until 1972. That year, he returned to Estherville, Iowa, and went to work at John Morrell Meat Packing Plant until its closure in 1982. Joe then opened Graettinger Meat Processors, which he proudly operated until 1998. Following that, he worked at Polaris in Spirit Lake, Iowa, until his retirement in 2004. 

 Even after retiring, Joe kept busy by driving a school bus for the Graettinger Community Schools. He especially enjoyed driving the high school girls to their volleyball games and cheering them on. 

 Joe met the love of his life, Susan Taylor, while she was working at the Estherville Drive-In. They were united in marriage on November 21, 1964, in Estherville, and this year would have marked their 61st anniversary. Together they welcomed their daughter, Kelly Jo, on December 27, 1965 

 In his spare time, Joe enjoyed collecting and restoring antique cars, golfing, riding motorcycles, and taking family vacations. He loved putting on the Graettinger Car Show and was a proud member of the Black Knights Car Club. Joe also liked visiting casinos, gardening, tinkering in his shop, and watching his son-in-law race figure 8s. Above all, he cherished making memories with his three granddaughters Peyton, Taylor, and Morgan - never missing their activities, especially soccer games, no matter the weather. In recent years, he found great joy in spending time with his great-grandsons, Knox and Koen. 

 Joe is survived by his wife of 61 years, Susan; his only daughter Kelly (Dale) of Spencer, Iowa; granddaughters, Peyton (Michael) of Spencer, Iowa, Taylor (Kyle) of Emmetsburg, Iowa, and Morgan of Spencer, Iowa; great grandsons Knox and Koen; brother, Denny (Margaret) Graettinger, sister, Rose (John) McCaskie, sister, Judy Sandmeyer, brother, Ronald Graettinger, brother, John (Helen) Graettinger, sister, Diane Peterson, sister, Barb Graettinger, brother, Jim Graettinger and Brother-in-law, Gary Taylor and numerous nieces, nephew, great nieces, great nephews their families and many family friends. 

 He was preceded in death by his parents Ralph and Rosella Graettinger; in-laws, Orval and Della Taylor; brother-in-law, Dewey Sandmeyer; sisters-in-law, Lois Graettinger and Deb Graettinger; and infant nephew, Bernard Joseph Graettinger. 

 Joe was a loving husband, father, grandpa, great grandpa, brother, uncle and friend to many. We will miss his hugs, kisses, smiles and all his stories he shared with everyone. 

 If you have a story you'd like to share with the family, please share on here or at his services we'd love to hear them. 

 The family would like to give a special Thanks to SPARC and their staff, and St. Croix Hospice and staff for all the care you gave Joe. 

 Arrangements by Geelan Funeral Home