Joseph E. Halbur, 61, of Carroll, died Saturday, March 26, 2016, at his home surrounded by his family.
A Funeral Mass will be celebrated at 10 a.m., Saturday, April 2, 2016 at Holy Spirit Catholic Church in Carroll. The Celebrant will be Fr. Timothy Johnson. Con-Celebrant will be Fr. Matthew Malek Mass Servers will be Joe Halbur and Martin Halbur. Music will be by Elise Pick, Joan and Tom Gronstal, Dr. Craig Rowles, and Beth Tiefenthaler. Lectors will be Daniel Halbur, Zach Halbur, and Jay Halbur. Gift Bearers will be Meghan Shelley, Sarah Borkowski, Katie Halbur, and Brooke Dougherty. Eucharistic Ministers will be Dr. Marty Halbur, Denise Mueller, and Mary Ann Borkowski. Honorary Pallbearers will be Dr. Marty Halbur, Kyle Halbur, Jim Halbur, Mary Ann Borkowski, Dr. Pat Halbur, Paul Halbur, Dr. Greg Halbur, Corinne Dougherty, Greg Simons, and Denise Mueller. Burial will be at Mt. Olivet Cemetery in Carroll. The Carroll County Bar Association will form an honor guard for the funeral mass.
Friends may call at the Sharp Funeral Home in Carroll, after 4 p.m. on Friday, where there will be a Christian Wake Service held at 7 p.m.
Visitation will resume at Holy Spirit Church at 9 a.m. Saturday morning, where visitation will continue until the time of the funeral mass.
In lieu of flowers memorials may be directed to the Relay for Life-Team of Hope or the Creighton University Schlegel Center for Service and Justice.
Funeral arrangements are under the direction of Sharp Funeral Home in Carroll. Online condolences may be left for Joe’s family at www.sharpfuneral.com.
Born on February 10, 1955 at Carroll, Iowa, Joseph Edward was the son of Robert W. and Mary (Spellman) Halbur. He grew up on a farm near Willey and graduated from Kuemper Catholic High School in 1973. In order to participate in wrestling and football, Joe’s mother required him to play an instrument. His musical talents were quite limited and he was assigned to 3rd trombone. When the 2nd trombone left Joe remained 3rd trombone. After high school, Joe attended Creighton University in Omaha, earning his BSBA in 1977. He attended Creighton Law School, where he earned his JD in 1979. Joe gained admission to practice law in the State of Iowa and the United States District Courts of Iowa in 1979.
On June 4, 1977, Joe was united in marriage to Claudia Simons at Holy Spirit Catholic Church in Carroll. The couple made their home in Omaha for two years while Joe finished his law degree, before returning to Carroll in 1979. Joe worked a short time for the law firm of Kurth and Bunger. He then opened his own firm where he practiced for 35 years. In the fall of 2015 he merged his practice, becoming partner in Neu, Minnich, Comito, Halbur, Neu, and Badding PC. Joe was known for his integrity and dedication to his clients. He was direct and sometimes exasperating, but his word was gold.
Joe was intricately involved in farming. He enjoyed all aspects of agriculture, especially watching Market to Market and the recruitment, supervision, & over-compensation of rock-picking crews. He also enjoyed his men’s bridge group, fishing, traveling, and time at Okoboji with his family. Examples of his many contributions to the community include service on the Carroll County Compensation Board, the George N. Wernimont Educational Fund, and as a co-Chair of the 2003 Kuemper Ball along with Claudia. Joe was a member of the Iowa State Bar Association, Carroll County Bar Association, and Holy Spirit Parish.
Left to celebrate Joe’s life are: his wife Claudia Halbur of Carroll; son Nick (Joanna) Halbur of Omaha, and grandchildren Grace and Jackson; and daughter Amy (Dr. Mark) Abraham of Dakota Dunes, SD, and grandchildren Mirabel and Lucy. Also surviving are: his siblings Dr. Marty (Dee) Halbur of Carroll, Jim (Barb) Halbur of Carroll, Mary Ann (Bert) Borkowski of Carroll, Dr. Pat (Dr. Therese) Halbur of Ames, Paul (Maureen) Halbur of Omaha, Dr. Greg (Dr. Johanna) Halbur of Sioux City, and Corinne (Greg) Dougherty of Omaha; sister-in-law Kyle Halbur of Carroll; father-in-law Elmer Simons of Carroll; brother-in-law Greg (Connie) Simons of Carroll; sister-in-law Denise (Ron) Mueller of Bettendorf; and many nieces, nephews, other extended relatives, and friends.
Joe was preceded in death by his parents Robert W. and Mary Halbur, brother Mike Halbur in 2012, mother-in-law Leola Simons in 2009, and sister-in-law Monica Simons in 2012.
