Our father, Joseph Richmond Ison, age 91, died of natural causes Dec. 17, 2007.
Dad was born Aug. 9, 1916, to Robert Lee and Louie Mae Savage Ison. He grew up in the tiny Mormon town of Woodruff, Ariz., where he survived carbon monoxide poisoning and an armed robbery. He graduated from the University of Arizona with a degree in Poultry Husbandry.
During his university years, he met and courted our mother, Dona Hansen. He was a redhead and she had sworn never to marry one. But his integrity, work ethic and devotion to the Gospel of Jesus Christ won her over. They were married in the St. George, Utah, LDS temple on July 11, 1940, and moved to Twin Falls, on their honeymoon.
Dad had obtained employment in Twin Falls as a hatcheryman for Swift & Co. His starting pay was $22.50 a week. A year later mom and dad were transferred to Caldwell. Shortly thereafter, dad bought his own egg hatching operation on Indiana Ave. After WWII, dad switched from chicken production to egg production. His eggs supplied virtually all the restaurants, grocery stores and school lunch programs in Caldwell for years.
During this time, mom and dad also produced six daughters. He liked to bemoan being the lone man in the midst of 10,000 hens, three milk cows, a wife and six daughters.
As his business and family grew, so did the LDS church in Treasure Valley. At age 27, he became the Bishop of the Caldwell 1st Ward and served for 10 years. At age 40, he was called as Stake President of the Nampa LDS Stake where he served for 17 years. Upon his release he served as the Caldwell Stake Patriarch. After retirement both mom and dad worked 20 years in the Boise LDS Temple and served in its presidency three years.
Dad was a lifetime member of the Caldwell Kiwanis Club. He grew prolific gardens and shared his vegetables with everyone. His corn rivaled the Crookham brand served at the yearly Kiwanis Chuckwagon. We, his daughters, are grateful for his lifetime example. For 91 years he maintained his integrity, steadfastness and devotion. He was a doer of good deeds and a pragmatic solver of problems with no fanfare to speak of.
Dad is survived by his wife of 67 years, Dona, and his five living daughters, Jocile (Richard) Wilson, of Bountiful, UT, Angela (Noel) Nielson, of Preston, Lora Dawn McKinley, of Meridian, Jana (Kevin) Nelson, of Nampa, Kristen (John) Carson, of Bethlehem, PA. We also claim two "adopted" daughters, Loretta (Noel) Hales, of Nampa and Nan Arnold. Dad's posterity numbers 28 grandchildren and 26 great-grandchildren.
Dad was preceded in death by his parents, by five of his six brothers and sisters, and by a daughter, Hertha Hales.
Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Friday, Dec. 21, at the LDS Stake Center on Old Highway 30. A viewing will be held Thursday evening from 6 to 8 p.m. at Dakan Funeral Chapel, Caldwell, and in the Relief Society Room from 1 to 1:45 p.m. Friday prior to services. Committal services will be at Canyon Hill Cemetery following the services.
Condolences can be sent to the family at www.dakanfuneralchapel.com
Published in Idaho Press Tribune from December 19 to December 20, 2007
Our father, Joseph Richmond Ison, age 91, died of natural causes Dec. 17, 2007.
Dad was born Aug. 9, 1916, to Robert Lee and Louie Mae Savage Ison. He grew up in the tiny Mormon town of Woodruff, Ariz., where he survived carbon monoxide poisoning and an armed robbery. He graduated from the University of Arizona with a degree in Poultry Husbandry.
During his university years, he met and courted our mother, Dona Hansen. He was a redhead and she had sworn never to marry one. But his integrity, work ethic and devotion to the Gospel of Jesus Christ won her over. They were married in the St. George, Utah, LDS temple on July 11, 1940, and moved to Twin Falls, on their honeymoon.
Dad had obtained employment in Twin Falls as a hatcheryman for Swift & Co. His starting pay was $22.50 a week. A year later mom and dad were transferred to Caldwell. Shortly thereafter, dad bought his own egg hatching operation on Indiana Ave. After WWII, dad switched from chicken production to egg production. His eggs supplied virtually all the restaurants, grocery stores and school lunch programs in Caldwell for years.
During this time, mom and dad also produced six daughters. He liked to bemoan being the lone man in the midst of 10,000 hens, three milk cows, a wife and six daughters.
As his business and family grew, so did the LDS church in Treasure Valley. At age 27, he became the Bishop of the Caldwell 1st Ward and served for 10 years. At age 40, he was called as Stake President of the Nampa LDS Stake where he served for 17 years. Upon his release he served as the Caldwell Stake Patriarch. After retirement both mom and dad worked 20 years in the Boise LDS Temple and served in its presidency three years.
Dad was a lifetime member of the Caldwell Kiwanis Club. He grew prolific gardens and shared his vegetables with everyone. His corn rivaled the Crookham brand served at the yearly Kiwanis Chuckwagon. We, his daughters, are grateful for his lifetime example. For 91 years he maintained his integrity, steadfastness and devotion. He was a doer of good deeds and a pragmatic solver of problems with no fanfare to speak of.
Dad is survived by his wife of 67 years, Dona, and his five living daughters, Jocile (Richard) Wilson, of Bountiful, UT, Angela (Noel) Nielson, of Preston, Lora Dawn McKinley, of Meridian, Jana (Kevin) Nelson, of Nampa, Kristen (John) Carson, of Bethlehem, PA. We also claim two "adopted" daughters, Loretta (Noel) Hales, of Nampa and Nan Arnold. Dad's posterity numbers 28 grandchildren and 26 great-grandchildren.
Dad was preceded in death by his parents, by five of his six brothers and sisters, and by a daughter, Hertha Hales.
Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Friday, Dec. 21, at the LDS Stake Center on Old Highway 30. A viewing will be held Thursday evening from 6 to 8 p.m. at Dakan Funeral Chapel, Caldwell, and in the Relief Society Room from 1 to 1:45 p.m. Friday prior to services. Committal services will be at Canyon Hill Cemetery following the services.
Condolences can be sent to the family at www.dakanfuneralchapel.com
Published in Idaho Press Tribune from December 19 to December 20, 2007
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