Joseph Ira Whisenand

Joseph “Joe” Ira Whisenand was born Dec. 7, 1941 (yes, Pearl Harbor Day) in South El Monte, CA, and left this earth on April 16, 2013 in Heart, Arkansas. He was preceded in death by his parents, Orval and Amanda Whisenand. He leaves behind his high school sweetheart and wife of 52 years, Valerie (Hansen) Whisenand and two grown children, Karen Lankford (Robert) and Gary Whisenand (Frances), seven grandchildren and three great-grandchildren. Also a sister, Jeannie Ostler, husband Gary; and brother, Dale Whisenand, wife Michelle. Joe led a fulfilled life while raising his family, first in Monrovia, CA and later in rural Murrieta, CA. He worked for Bianchi Leather, the Murrieta Water District, Murrieta Feed, and ran several small businesses of his own. He was a dedicated volunteer firefighter who worked his way up to Assistant Chief, then Chief of the Murrieta Fire Protection District, later to become the city of Murrieta, retiring in 1995. Joe and his wife, Val, felt as though they had come home to their real roots when they settled in Heart, Arkansas and were privileged to share twenty wonderful years among the loving, caring folks Joe was proud to call friends and adopted family. Funeral services will be held on Saturday, April 20, 2013, 10:00 AM, at Salem First Baptist Church in Salem, Arkansas, with Bro. John Hodges officiating. Interment will be in the Burks Chapel Cemetery, Camp, Arkansas, under the direction of Barker Funeral Home in Salem, Arkansas. Pallbearers will be Joseph Whisenand, Dustin Hall, C. D. Hall, Josh Smith, Derek Hall, and Jake Smith. In lieu of flowers, memorials preferred to Salem First Baptist Church Building Fund or Burks Chapel Cemetery.