Joseph "Joe" A. Weishaar

For the on demand recording of the Mass for Joe, please click here.

Joseph A. Weishaar, a beloved 85 year-old husband, father, and grandfather, passed away at home on December 23, 2024 after a long, but courageous battle with Multiple Myeloma and Myelodysplastic Syndrome. 

Joe was born on May 25, 1939 in Havelock, Iowa to Joseph and Rose Weishaar. He was the youngest of 10 children. He had two sisters, Evelyn and Adelaide, and seven brothers, Leonard, Gilbert, Rapheal (Hap), Eddie, Elmer, Bernard and Melvin. Joe’s family lived on a 160-acre farm that he helped maintain until graduation from high school.

Joe attended Buena Vista College in Storm Lake, Iowa where he had hopes of ultimately becoming a surgeon. Due to lack of finances he continued his path in the sciences and received his Bachelor of Science Degree in analytical chemistry. He moved to Kansas City, Kansas where he started his career with the FDA. After working in Kansas City, he studied at Georgetown University in Washington, DC where he gained more knowledge of pesticides, eventually becoming a pesticide specialist. He finished his training and relocated to Minneapolis, Minnesota where he worked with the FDA for the next 37 years, retiring in 2000.

Joe’s job took him to Cairo, Egypt for a month of teaching Egyptian chemists modern techniques and he was often referred to as “Dr. Joe”. He was the lead chemist during the 1980’s working on the nationwide General Mills oat contamination recall as well as the Tylenol tampering cases. The General Mills case ended up in court, where he was summoned as an expert witness.

Joe met Kathy, his wife of 54 years, at a Chinese New Years party in 1968. It was at this party where he often joked Kathy “fell for him”. Apparently, Kathy slipped on some ice outside in the street as he was approaching her. As any gentleman of this era would do, he extended his hand to help her. This encounter became love at first sight, and they married two years later in Robbinsdale, Minnesota. 

They were married for one year prior to moving into their current home where they raised their two children, Janell and Joe Jr. 

Joe and Kathy also enjoyed their membership to the Knights of Columbus Council #3656. It was through this Catholic organization that they enjoyed many social events as well as promoted fellowship among members by providing charitable relief and educational opportunities to the community.

Joe and Kathy enjoyed traveling. This included driving throughout the United States and parts of Canada by car, an Alaskan cruise, two extensive European vacations, where they spent time with Kathy’s French relatives, annual winters in Bucerias, Mexico for 17 years, followed by trips to Marco Island, Florida for six winters before the pandemic. They often traveled with close friends or family, and were able to make many lifelong friendships along the way. 

In addition to traveling, Joe enjoyed day trading, was an internet enthusiast, and enjoyed looking for “dad jokes” and new recipes to try. But his favorite thing was spending time with his family and grandchildren, grilling ribs, sharing meals, and chauffeuring his grandkids to various activities. 

Mass of Christian Burial 11 AM, Monday, January 6 at the Parish Community of St. Joseph Parish Center, 8701 36th Ave. N. and Boone Ave. N., New Hope.

Interment Gethsemane Cemetery. 

Visitation one hour prior to the Mass at the church. 

Memorials are preferred to the Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation, P.O. Box 414238, Boston, MA  02241-4238 or directly by clicking here or to the family for Masses in Joe's memory.