Obituary of Joel W. Emde

Joel W. Emde, 51 of 62 Wakefield Court, Iowa City, died at his home Friday, June 13, 2008, of cancer. Memorial services will be held at 10:30 a.m., Wednesday, June 18, 2008, at Gay & Ciha Funeral and Cremation Service in Iowa City with the Reverend Michael Lynch and Chris Lockeby officiating. Private family graveside services will take place at the Pleasant Hill Cemetery in Joetown. Visitation will be one hour prior to the services on Wednesday. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations can be made in Joel’s memory to Iowa City Hospice. Online condolences may be sent to his family through the web @ www.gayandciha.com. Joel Wayne Emde was born August 8, 1956, in Iowa City, the son of Vernon and Joanne (Noffsinger) Emde. He married Lea Kay Coffland on January 24, 1981 in Iowa City. For many years he worked as an Ironworker through Ironworkers No. 89 in Cedar Rapids. He has lived in the Iowa City area all his life, and was a member of the Church of the Nazarene in Iowa City. His family includes his wife, Lea; son, Wesley Coffland of Ft. Collins, CO; mother, Joanne Emde of Iowa City; brothers, Jim Emde of Livermore, CA, and John Emde and his wife, Dawn of Virginia Beach, VA; six nieces and nephews, and his beloved Labrador, Sonny. Joel was preceded in death by his father, and brother, David Emde. Gay & Ciha Funeral and Cremation Service is caring for Joel’s family and his services.