Joseph Robert Copenhaver age 71 of rural Oelwein passed away Sunday, November 30, 2025 at the Cedar Valley Hospice Home in Waterloo. Joe was born May 8, 1954 in Oelwein, the son of Kenneth and Cora Jeanne (Halstead) Copenhaver. He grew up in rural Oelwein just north of Fairbank. Joe attended and graduated from Wapsie Valley Community Schools with the class of 1972. After graduation he enlisted in the United States Navy. He proudly served his country for four years spending most of that time on the aircraft carrier USS America. Joe worked for various different companies after his enlistment as a forklift operator. The last 13 years he worked for Ryder Logistics in Waterloo, where he retired from just this last October due to his health. When Joe had some free time he enjoyed going fishing but his biggest enjoyment was reading. He always had a book to read and if he didn’t have a new one to start he would just grab one from the hundreds of books that he collected over the years and read it again.

Survived by: one brother, Walt Copenhaver, two sisters; Diane Reeves and Karen (Logan) Buenger along with numerous nieces and nephews.

Preceded in death by: his parents, one brother, George Copenhaver, one sister-in-law, Pat Copenhaver and one brother-in-law, Max Reeves.

No services are planned at this time.