Joe Marshall, 81, of Blunt, died Monday, February 8, 2021.

Joe Albert Marshall Jr. was born May 22, 1939 to Joseph and Margaret (July) Marshall of Blunt, SD. He was the youngest of 8 children: Bernie, Ray, France, Ken, Helen, Dorothy, Alice – and then came Joe. They lived on a farm west of Blunt. He went to country school and then on to school in Blunt where he met Shirley Mae Stuart. They were married June 14th, 1959. The couple was married for 61 years.

They fell in love and married in high school and as Shirley often said with a smile “everyone was surprised when their firstborn Julie didn’t come until 1 year and 1 day later.” Their second and last born was son Dan who came 3 years later.

Joe loved to deer hunt and go cat fishing. Shirley and he loved to dance and they brought much life to a party. The old twangy country kicking music was his favorites. He was a John Deere man and still had an old 1950 John Deere AR that he was proud of restoring and winning some tractor pulls with. Joe loved Shirley, no doubt, and he was always attentive to her call. He missed her so much in these last years as she came down with a memory disease. It’s been six years of loneliness for both of them, but all so often he spoke of the hurt he felt in the move she had to make to full time care.

Joe farmed in various places for different employers for most of his career. He even tried raising sheep for awhile at Roddewigs, and later worked for the Anderson’s. Joe finished his wage earning days working for Sully County where he retired after 11 years of rural road grading in 2003. Many years to follow he helped with the harvest of long time friends.

Retirement meant a lot of gardening for him and he really looked forward to it. He even bought a John Deere as his lawn mower and he loved riding it. He enjoyed his wood shop and his family enjoyed the proceeds. All his life he was up before the sun and what seemed like down just after dinner. Many have been amused at the sight and sounds that came as he slept in his chair in front of the TV.

Joe passed away February 8, 2021 at his home in Blunt SD. He is survived by his wife Shirley and his two children Dan (Roxy) Marshall and Julie (Todd) Stickler, seven grandchildren Miranda (Ryan) Smith, Janelle Beekman, Danica (Jon) Hillestad, Jason Stickler, Shona Marshall, and Jade (Cody) Shoultz, six great grand children Eleanor, Damian, Eliza, Joseph, Marcus, and Rylee, along with a host of extended family members and friends. He was preceded in death by his parents and siblings. Joe’s smile and yearn for a party and even his soap boxes will be missed by many.

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