Joseph "Joe" Clement Atkinson, 71, of Preston, Iowa passed away at the Jackson County Regional Health Center on Sunday, August 28, 2016. A Funeral Mass will take place at 1:00 p.m. on Thursday, September 1, at St. Joseph Catholic Church, Preston. A visitation will take place from 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. on Wednesday, August 31, at St. Joseph Church. Pallbearers will be co-workers: Joe Thulen, Billy Croce, Brad Maydew, Terry Lattin, Kas Loehndorf and Brad Meyer. Burial will take place at St. Joseph Catholic Cemetery immediately following the Funeral Mass. Military honors will be conducted by American Legion Post 602. Lemke Funeral Homes is assisting the family with arrangements.
Joe was born February 7, 1945 in Rock Island, Illinois, the son of Charles "Bill" and Honora "Nonie" (O'Brien) Atkinson. He was a 1964 graduate of Northeast High School. From September 1965 to September 1967 he proudly served in the United State Army, stationed in Korea. Upon his return from the service he worked at Clinton Corn Processing for 12 years and retired in 2011 from Danisco Sweeteners in Thomson, Illinois after 30 years.
Joe was united in marriage to Jane Robinson on May 18, 1968 at St. Joseph's Catholic Church in Preston. He was a long-time member of St. Joseph's Church and also a member of the American Legion Post 602, AMVETS post 140 and was a volunteer EMT with the Community Ambulance Service for 25 years, as well as a volunteer firefighter with the Preston Fire Department for 30 years.
Joe is survived by his wife - Jane; three sons - Christopher (Christel) of Clinton, IA, Jay (Courtney) and Andrew both of Preston, IA; ten grandchildren; brothers - Lawrence (Jackie) of Camanche, IA, Daniel of Moline, IL and Steven (Debbie) of Davenport, IA; sisters - Patricia (Frank) Greve of Camanche, IA, Nancy (Marvin) Feist of Oskaloosa, IA, Margaret (Roger) Stoecken of Preston, IA, Mardella Dorrel of Chula Vista, CA, Bonita (Gary) Tebbe of Preston, IA and Mary (Onie) Butt of Clinton, IA; sisters-in-law - Carol Atkinson of Preston, IA, Barbara Dodd of Clinton, IA, Marie Rossman of Preston, IA and Linda Atkinson of Lost Nation, IA; brothers -in-law- Charles Klinkner of Clinton, IA, Tony Schultz of Camanche, IA and Steven Brown of Myrtle Beach, SC, with numerous nieces and nephews.
Preceding Joe in death were his parents; sisters - Frances Klinkner, Kathleen Schultz and Rhonda Brown; brothers - Charles "Jack", William "Bill" and James Atkinson and one grandson - Cooper.
Memorials made can be directed to wishes of the family.

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