Our deepest sympathies to the family and friends of Joe Hollinrake, father of Steve, Laura, and John Hollinrake.
Joseph Michael Hollinrake was born November 10, 1925, on his parents’ farm in Weller, Iowa, the sixth of nine children born to John Francis and Mary Elizabeth McKillip Hollinrake. He attended primary school at Cedar Center and graduated with the Albia High School, Class of 1944.
Following graduation, Joe farmed with his parents until establishing his own farm just north of Weller, raising hogs, cattle, and horses. He met his wife, Jean Kathryn Durbala, at a dance in Knoxville, and they were married on August 28, 1954, at St. Peter’s Catholic Church in Lovilia.
As a farmer, Joe knew the importance of a reliable water source and was instrumental in founding the Rathbun Regional Water Association (RRWA). He was on the RRWA board for 42 years, serving as chairperson for 20 years, and was inducted into the Iowa Rural Water Association Hall of Fame.
Joe was a lifelong member of St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Weller until its closing in 1996, serving as altar boy, council member, usher, annual picnic auction organizer and trustee. He and Jean spearheaded a St. Mary’s cemetery restoration project and helped establish an association for the cemetery’s perpetual care. They also coauthored a book called Weller Roots about the history of St. Mary’s and the Weller community and were the driving force in the development of the memorial building which stands in dedication to the former church and community.
Joe passed away at his home on September 11, 2024, following a brief illness. He is survived by his daughters, Mary Kay Henderson (Rick) of Albia and Laura Hollinrake (Pat Finan) of Knoxville; sons, Steve (Kim) and John (Cami) of Knoxville, Robert of Waterloo and Marty (Kristy) of Peyton, Colorado; daughter-in-law, Suszanne of Albia; 18 grandchildren; 6 great grandchildren; sisters-in law, Suzanne Durbala and Margaret Durbala; and many nieces and nephews. Joe was preceded in death by his wife, Jean, daughter, Barb, son, Ed, and grandchildren Gabrielle and Elijah; his parents; brothers and sisters-in law John Ed and Virginia, Paul and Patty, Leo and Wilma, and James; sisters Catherine, Theresa, Marcella and an unnamed infant sister, as well as several nephews and a niece.
Tharp Funeral Home of Albia is managing arrangements. Visitation will be 9:00 a.m. to 10:45 am on Monday, September 16, 2024, at the funeral home, followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at St. Mary’s Catholic Church, Albia. A luncheon will follow, concluding with burial in Weller.
Memorials made to the family to be distributed to the Catholic cemeteries in Monroe County, St. Mary’s Catholic Church (Albia), and EveryStep Hospice.