Joe McLaughlin

Joe McLaughlin, age 64, of Fonda, Iowa died on Saturday, August 4, 2018 at the Trinity Regional Medical Center in Fort Dodge, Iowa. Memorial Mass will be held on Saturday, August 11, 2018 at 10:30 a.m. at the Our Lady of Good Counsel Catholic Church in Fonda. Burial will be in the Mt. Zion Cemetery in Fonda. Visitation will take place prior to the service starting 9:00 a.m. The Fratzke & Jensen Funeral Home in Storm Lake is in charge of the arrangements. Joseph Charles McLaughlin, the son of Francis and Dorothy (Steinman) McLaughlin was born on June 12, 1954 in Fort Dodge, Iowa. Joe was baptized and confirmed at Our Lady of Good Counsel Catholic Church in Fonda, Iowa where he would remain a life-long member. In his youth, Joe attended grade school and high school at Our Lady of Good Counsel Catholic School where he graduated in 1972. He furthered his education at Wayne State College where he earned his teaching degree in 1976. Joe taught high school history and coached baseball and softball at St. Bernards in Breda, Bayard Community Schools and Granville-Spalding. He then found employment at the Iowa Department of Corrections in Fort Dodge, retiring in 2016. In his free time, Joe enjoyed fishing, watching sports, reading and gardening. Joe was an avid St. Louis Cardinal and Iowa Hawkeye fan. He was also very involved in his niece’s life and always looked forward to spending time with her. He was very much looking forward to she and Kyle’s upcoming wedding. Joe was a very quiet, soft spoken man with a big heart. That became very evident when his mother’s health began failing and he went above and beyond to care for her. Joe had a love for all animals, especially his loyal dog, Coco. Those left to cherish his memory include his brother, John McLaughlin of Fonda; sister, Rose Mary (Steven) Lohff of Sac City; niece, Kelsey (fiancé Kyle Dahm) Lohff of Early; and many cousins, neighbors and friends. Joe will be deeply missed by those who knew and loved him. Joe was preceded in death by his parents, Francis and Dorothy (Steinman) McLaughlin; infant sister, Charlotte; paternal grandparents, Joseph and Agnes McLaughlin; and maternal grandparents, Charles and Elizabeth Claus.

Joe McLaughlin

June 12, 1954 - August 4, 2018