Joe Fagan
September 02, 2020
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Service Details
On September 2, 2020 Joe Fagan moved on to higher ground.
Joe was born on March 14, 1940 and is the son of Francis Fagan and Florence Collins.
Joe grew up on a small farm (120 acres) in Dubuque County and went to a one-room country school taught by his second cousin Amy Larkin from first to third grades, and by his aunt Liz Lynch from fourth through eighth. He was surrounded by great neighbors and cousins.
He played baseball every day of his life from eight to twenty-four, including on the town teams of New Melleray, Key West and Zwingle. He was a Jackie Robinson and Dodger fan from 1951 to the day he died.
After graduating from Loras College, Joe spent five years in the seminary and was ordained a Catholic priest on June 3, 1967 and served in Waukon, Cedar Rapids and Waterloo.
In Waterloo he had the great fortune to be introduced to community organizing at the instigation of Fr. Gene Kutsch.
And from there, with the assistance and wisdom of Shel Trapp and many others, organizing was Joe’s life. From 1975 to 2010 Joe played a major role in the creation and support of Iowa Citizens for Community Improvement (Iowa CCI) and being part of numerous endeavors to establish social, economic and environmental justice, and having fun doing it.
In the 1970s Joe met Lou Ann Burkle and fell in love, in a third of a second. He left the priesthood in 1979 and moved to Des Moines. Joe and Lou Ann have two lovely daughters, Bridget Fagan-Reidburn (Shawn Reidburn) and Monica Fagan and two grandchildren, Grace and Eddie Reidburn.
Joe had 3 sibling sisters: Sr. Ruth Fagan (Sisters of St. Francis, Dubuque), Marie Thier (Dave Thier, deceased), and Jean Fagan (Dave Fyten), both deceased.
He is survived by a nephew, Benjamin Fyten, and nieces: Abby Fyten Aasbo (Johan), Mary Clemen (Kevin), Colleen Bartels (Steve), and Joan Thier.
Joe had a great life that included dancing with Lou Ann on Saturday nights. He considered his whole life a gift.
A private celebration of life will be held with immediate family. Joe wished to be cremated and his ashes returned to the earth, at the Wildflower Scattering Garden at Glendale Cemetery, Des Moines, Iowa.
Memorial contributions may be sent to Iowa Citizens for Community Improvement (Iowa CCI), Common Good Iowa (formerly Iowa Policy Project) or the Equal Justice Initiative in Montgomery, AL.
Obituary written by Joe Fagan
Colyn and Hilary Burbank
09/14/2020
Dear Lou Ann and family,
We are sending you lots of love from over in Scotland. We are grateful for the variety of ways that we got to know Joe and are honored to have known someone who lived such a truly good life in so many ways. We appreciated his playful, kind and passionate nature. Love to you all.
Michael Scholer
09/14/2020
Lou Ann, Bridget and Monica,
Sending my heartfelt sympathies to you on the loss of Joe, a special kind and good hearted person. Able to tune in to your beautiful service yesterday, and it brought back memories of times past with Joe and you and the gang at Iowa CCI. God bless and keep you always! 'Jesus Christ was a community organizer. Pontius Pilate was a governor.'
Dave and Elaine (Burkle) Schieltz
09/13/2020
Lou Ann,
Our deepest sympathy goes out to you and your family. What a wonderful and touching service! God bless you, our prayers are with you!
Pat and Lynn Schooley
09/13/2020
What a special person Joe was, and we were lucky to have known him and all of you. Our pizza nights were always something we looked forward to, and not just for the pizza! You all are in our thoughts and prayers...Love to all of you.
Marquita Collins Welshhans
09/12/2020
Lou Ann, Bridget, and Monica,
I know you are hurting now as Joe left a large void in the lives of most he touched. Joe was my cousin. Geography kept us apart in my growing up years, but my dad took me to "the farm" for a couple weeks in the summer where Joe, Ruth, Marie, Jean and I played kick ball under the lights after dark and shared stories. How I loved those times ! I took my own children there to visit a few times as they were growing up: they thought it was the best ! I was there for Joes' ordination as well as his wedding, both joyful occasions ! He was a remarkable person, totally committed to his community as long as it involved humanity. He had a laugh that lit up the night ! Joe, Lou Ann, and Ruth visited me in Ohio a few years back. I will cherish that memory a it was the last time we would all be together. Gosh, I will miss knowing that he is a phone call or email away as will so many. Ken an I wish you God speed, Joe !
Michael Baldus
09/12/2020
Lou Ann, Bridget and Monica: Your pain of Joe's loss must still be very deep. I have been thinking of you all since Kelsi notified me. Joe was a great guy, we were all lucky to have known him. He will be missed by many! I will miss both his big grin AND his fighting spirit! A great combination in one person. Watch over us Joe!
Phil & Colleen McCarthy
09/08/2020
So sorry for your loss.
Tena Nelson
09/08/2020
Luann & girls...so sorry to hear of Joe's passing..I'll always remember his sharings & strength in times of struggle..my very deepest sympathies to you all.
Sister Elvira Kelley
09/08/2020
Lou Ann, my sympathy to you and your daughters. I'm sure these last months have not been easy. God bless you and give you peace.
Mary Jean & Henry Westhoff
09/08/2020
Our heartfelt thoughts go out to you and your family. You have many good memories with Joe that will help you thru this difficult time. Our prayers are with you.
Sr. Sally Mitchell
09/08/2020
Dear loved ones of Joes family:
I offer you my condolences and promise of prayer and support during these difficult times. May you know the peace that comes from our faith in the love of God and the promise of eternal life in heaven.
Rene Ostberg
09/07/2020
To Sr. Ruth, Marie, Lou Ann, Bridget, and Monica: Our heartfelt condolences from Madonna (Joe's cousin) and Jack Ostberg and family in Chicago. We are thinking of all of you and have been sharing pictures and memories of Joe these past few days. With love...
Kathy Dick
09/07/2020
Dear Fagan Clan,
Our lives have been blessed by the warmth of your laughter, the depth of your faith, and the strength of your love. Thank you for sharing your lives with us. We love you.
Kathy, Mike, Carly and Ross Dick
Shundrea Trotty
09/07/2020
Lou Ann, Bridget and Monica - My heart and condolences go out to all of you. Joe was a great human and will be forever considered a mentor in my life. It is because of him, his encouragement and the gift he provided me working at CCI that I became a strategist and organizer; caring for community with the desire to not only witness but participate in social change. They say we should stand on the shoulders of those who came before us. I recognize that I stand on his and honor him for ALL he has done through community organizing, always fighting for social change. He will be missed by me and mom. His work and passion lives on through so many. Blessings.
Pat Westphal
09/07/2020
Dear Lou Ann,
I don't know where you are any more or I would send a card. I am so sorry to hear Joe is gone, even if it is to "higher ground." He was such a jewel. I think of you every time I pass your old house and wish you the very best.