SIOUX CITY -- Joseph J. Drop, 82, of Sioux City died Saturday, May 2, 2009, at Indian Hills Care Center Hospice.
Services will be 10:30 a.m. Wednesday at St. Michael Catholic Church, Sioux City, with the Rev. Gary Snyder officiating. Burial will be in Memorial Park Cemetery. Visitation will be 4 to 8 p.m. today, with the family present 6 to 8 p.m., at parish vigil service at 7 p.m. and a rosary and chalice service at 7:30 p.m. conducted by the Fourth Degree Knights of Columbus, all at Larkin Chapel, Christy-Smith Funeral Home.
Joe was born June 23, 1926, the son of John and Anna (Tarkowski) Drop, in Cleveland, Ohio. He was raised in Cleveland and attended school there. After high school, he joined the U.S. Army during World War II. He served as a radio controller and was stationed in Africa and Germany.
He returned to Cleveland after the service, where he met and married his soul mate, the love of his life, Gloria R. Brown. They were married March 13, 1948, in Cleveland. Together, they raised five children and have 10 grandchildren and four great-grandchildren, whom they are very proud.
He was a salesman, who loved his work. He worked for firms in Cleveland, Texas, Albany, N.Y., Alden, N.Y., and came to Sioux City in 1964. He worked for McCraken Concrete and Pipe Company. He traveled all over the world, selling equipment for this company.He retired from McCraken in 1983. He then went to work for KMEG Television in sales and worked there for 10 years. He retired in 1998.
He was active in his kids lives and served as Cub and Scout master for all of his sons. He was a member of St. Michael Catholic Church, where he served as a Eucharistic minister and lector. The couple enjoyed working at the Knights of Columbus omelet breakfasts and the parish dinners. He belonged to the Third Degree Knights of Columbus, St. Michael Council and the Fourth Degree Knights of Columbus, Garrigan Assembly. He loved working in his garden and seeing the flowers bloom. He also was an avid bird watcher. He enjoyed nature and seeing the changing of the seasons. He was a member of Ducks Unlimited. He was best known for his great sense of humor. But the most important parts of his life were the Lord, his wife, children and grandchildren. Three words to describe Joe, "I'm on call."
He is survived by his wife; three sons, David M. and Becky of New Castle, Colo., Christopher A. and Ann of Iowa City, Iowa, and Timothy B. and Norma of Tulsa, Okla.; two daughters and their husbands, Cassandra and Harold Saul of Sioux City and Melinda and James Fredericks of Hornick, Iowa; 10 grandchildren; four great-grandchildren; two stepgrandchildren; great-stepgrandchildren; and a sister-in-law, Nancy Drop of Mayfield Heights, Ohio.
He was preceded in death by his parents; two sisters, Adel Goga and MaryAnn Manley; and a brother, Frank Drop.
A memorial had been established in his name for St. Michael Catholic Church.