He was 65.

Laufersweiler was known for his compassion and listening ear.

He was married to Carol Laufersweiler for 28 years.

He became a mentor to his nephews, Mark Laufersweiler and Luke Laufersweiler, both partners in the family business.

“He taught me everything I know,” Mark Laufersweiler said. “He was really good with people and knew how to handle situations. He gave us a lot of opportunities. He was always fair to us.”

Mark Laufersweiler began working with his uncle in 1992 while attending Iowa Central Community College.

“Joe taught us how to work for everything and that’s important,” Mark Laufersweiler said. “He was a lot more than an uncle. He meant a lot to my whole family.”

Joseph Laufersweiler graduated from St. Edmond High School in 1970. He also attended Iowa Central Community College. He became a graduate from the University of Minnesota’s mortuary science program.

After his education, he returned to the funeral home to work with his father, Welch Laufersweiler.

In 1979, he purchased the funeral home, becoming the fourth generation of Laufersweilers to serve the Fort Dodge area.

Joseph Laufersweiler’s great-grandfather, Conrad Laufersweiler, started the family business in 1856, according to Luke Laufersweiler.

“He came over from Germany and the funeral home was actually downtown,” Luke Laufersweiler said. “It was like a furniture business. This was Civil War time, so he was probably the tombstone guy and the casket-maker. That’s how funerals started.”

Luke Laufersweiler, who worked with his uncle for 23 years, was impressed with Joseph Laufersweiler’s memory.

“He never forgot someone’s name,” he said. “It didn’t matter if he met you 25 years ago and you had hair and now you don’t, he knew who you were. It was locked in his brain. He never forgot anybody”

He learned from his uncle.

“The biggest thing I will remember is the way he was able to help families and be calm in their time of loss,” he said. “I learned all of that from him. How to listen was something Joe was extremely good at. A lot of compassion, and being a professional. He’s also one of my best friends.”

According to Luke Laufersweiler, his uncle was able to comfort families with humor.

“He could make anybody laugh,” he said. “It didn’t matter what was going on. We heard more laughing when Joe met with families than we did crying. He had a way of making things a little softer.”

Susan McDonald, a funeral director at Laufersweiler-Sievers Funeral Home, grew up just two blocks south of the funeral home.

She first met Joseph Laufersweiler in 2001 at her grandpa’s funeral.

McDonald remembered his calming nature.

“He was just very relaxed and patient with my family,” she said. “He took care of every detail.”

McDonald later began working at the funeral home in 2007.

She said Laufersweiler was very involved in the community.

“He was part of tons of organizations in Fort Dodge,” McDonald said. “Knights of Columbus, Moose Lodge, Daybreak Rotary, and he was constantly donating to charities. He’s the type of person who if someone who had fallen on hard times asked for a couple of bucks he would give you a 20.”

“Joe was going to know you and he was going to know your family,” she added. “He was more than a normal boss to me, he was like my work dad.”

David Swank, a funeral director and business partner, worked with Joseph Laufersweiler for about 23 years.

“Joe was the most honest partner I have ever had,” Swank said. “He’s honest to a fault. What you see with Joe is what you get. He was one of the most caring funeral directors I ever worked with.”

Swank said Joseph Laufersweiler was a leader.

“Joe was our quarterback,” Swank said. “He led us. He was always the man of reason. He was always the sensible one and had a cool head. I will miss him dearly. I owe everything to him.”

In his spare time, Joseph Laufersweiler shared a passion for fishing with his wife. He also loved riding his Harley Davidson trike motorcycle with friends and family.

Carol Laufersweiler said her husband enjoyed being part of the community.

“Joe was a very compassionate, soft-spoken funeral director,” she said. “His entire life he loved being able to serve the families of our community and surrounding areas. He had served many families for generations of all faith. I don’t think Joe would have ever truly retired from working at the funeral home because it was a lifelong calling for him.”