Joe was preceded in death by his parents Kenneth and Eleanor and his sister Cathy. He is survived by his wife, Clarissa; his daughter, Christy Ivie and her husband Tray, and their children Ben, Grace and Emma; his son, Mike Marischen and his wife Betsey, and their son Isaac; his three brothers Jim, Tom and his wife Glenda, and Ken and his wife Micki; numerous nieces and nephews; and his surrogate brother, Jim Degutis and his wife Bev.
Joe was beyond proud of his grandchildren. He marveled at Ben, Grace and Emma’s kindness and integrity and the fine young adults they had become. He was enjoying watching Isaac grow up and always looked forward to receiving his sweet and enthusiastic hugs.
Joe loved being with his family (in particular, during annual vacations on South Padre Island), traveling with his wife, spending summers in San Miguel de Allende, drinking wine on balconies overlooking the sea (or the mountains, or the golf course, or the city, or the living room), laughter-filled meals with his friends, puttering around in the garden, crossword puzzles (the hard ones), the St. Louis Cardinals, acting young again on periodic reunion trips with his best friends from college, and singing along (very well) to the music of Delbert McClinton, Bonnie Raitt and Chris Isaak.
Joe was an inventor and entrepreneur and a born salesman. He had a passion for remodeling houses and never saw a house he couldn’t improve. He was a good and ethical man - loved for his quick wit, generosity, kindness and compassion. He was also pretty easy on the eyes.
Joe’s family wishes to thank Drs. Yorio, Nuesch and Dang and the nurses and therapists at Texas Oncology for the compassionate care that they administered during his illness.
Joe requested that no funeral services be held and that his family and friends gather instead for a party of epic proportions to celebrate his life; the time and place of such event will be announced at a later date. In the meantime, pour yourself a glass of your favorite beverage and raise it in a toast to that wonderful sparkle and energy that made Joe the man he was.
Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.cookwaldenforestoaks.com for the Marischen family.
