Joseph John Moser

Funeral Services for Joseph Moser, age 74 of Clearwater, NE were at 10:30 A.M. on Wednesday, March 23, 2016 at St. Theresa Catholic Church in Clearwater, with Father James Kramper officiating. Music was provided by Carol Thiele, Organist, and Bob & Rita Kester, special music. Visitation was from 4:00 to 7:30 P.M. on Tuesday, March 22, 2016 with a prayer service at 7:30 P.M. at Snider Memorial Funeral Home in Clearwater. Burial was in St. Boniface Cemetery in Elgin, NE with Military Rites by Clearwater American Legion Post #267. Pallbearer were Steve Austin Niki Reifert, Tori Moser, Rick Moser, Ann Nielsen, Jeremy Kester, Tamara Bearinger, Dana Kester, Anthony Kester, Danielle Johnsen, and Shannon Tegeler. Joe passed away on Saturday, March 19, 2016 at Faith Regional Hospital in Norfolk, NE, surrounded by his siblings and their spouses, nieces and nephews. Snider Memorial Funeral Home is handling the arrangements. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to the Clearwater Volunteer Fire and Rescue. Joseph John Moser, son of Alvin ("Smokey") and Irene (Pelster) Moser, was born on February 22, 1942 on a farm located one mile south and two miles east of Elgin, NE. His parents purchased the family farm, four miles north of Elgin, in 1948. Joe attended St. Boniface School and graduated from there in 1960. He helped out on various ranches in the Elgin and Bartlett areas. In fall of 1963, he took an ag short course at the University of Nebraska East Campus in Lincoln. He was drafted into the U.S. Army in March of 1964. His basic training was at Fort Leonard Wood, MO. He took AIT courses at Fort Meade, MD to work as an Army Medic. He then served a tour of duty in Vietnam. After being released from the Army in 1966, Joe worked in Grand Island in the welding business and at Ravenna in an A.I. program with George Boucher. On October 7, 1967, Joe married Barbara Van Pelt in Grand Island. They lived in Palmer, where he was employed by Gary Bader. He later operated a repair shop in Worms. After his father Alvin's death, Joe and Barb moved to Elgin in 1972. He started a new business, J & B Manufacturing, where he produced horse and stock trailers and cattle handling equipment. In 1976, he became a Moorman's Feed Sales Representative and continued in this line of work for seven years. The Mosers bought a house from Max Wylie that was located northwest of Elgin and moved it to a location five miles west of Elgin. They started a new place known to nieces and nephews as "Little House on the Prairie". They also built a USDA-approved kennel there and raised miniature schnauzers. In 1984, a new job as Shop Manager at Dean Christensen's feedlot saw them move to Central City. Joe and Barb took a short stint and traveled around much of the United States as semi drivers, hauling various loads. In May of 1988, Joe was hired by the Green Valley Ranch southwest of Clearwater. He worked there for 16 years until his retirement. It was during this period that Joe and Barb divorced. After living in Ericson, Joe moved to Clearwater in fall of 2007, keeping busy as a farm and ranch hand. He enjoyed visits with family and friends. His hobbies included horses, fishing with former classmates, and rodeos. Joe is survived by his siblings: Marilyn (Nicholas) Austin of Fremont, NE; Gerald (Karlene) Moser of Elgin, NE; Rita (Robert) Kester of Clearwater, NE and Merle Moser of Elgin, NE; six nieces; five nephews; eleven great-nieces; twenty-two great-nephews; former wife, Barbara Moser; and special friend, Joyce Beedle. He was preceded in death by his father, Alvin (1971); his mother, Irene (2003); and a nephew, Christopher John Kester (1978).