Joey Dyslin was born to Floyd and Fern (Loving) Dyslin on May 26, 1949 in Cherokee, Iowa. He graduated from Washington High School in Cherokee with the class of 1967. He received a B.A. in Ministry from Minnesota Bible College in Rochester, Minnesota. Joey met Kathy Caster while in college in Minnesota. They were married on August 3, 1969 at the Church of Christ in Union, Iowa. After Joey’s graduation from Minnesota Bible College, he and Kathy moved to Johnson City, Tennessee where he attended graduate school (seminary) at Emmanuel School of Religion. Following three years of studies and writing a thesis, Joey received a MDiv (Master of Divinity) from Emmanuel School or Religion. His major area of study and thesis at seminary was Old Testament. He was chosen as a member of Eta Beta Rho (Hebrew Honor Society).
Joey ministered to Ashville Christian Church in Ashville, North Carolina, the Church of Christ in Eagle Lake, Minnesota, plus youth ministries at the Church of Christ in Winona, Minnesota, and the First Church of Christ in Cherokee, Iowa. Joey had a love for youth, and had an amazing connection with them through both his employment as a tracker with West Iowa Mental Health Center, the YES Center (Youth Emergency Services), and at the church, most recently with the youth at Meriden Evangelical Free Church in Meriden, Iowa. After the Sunday church services you could always find Joey talking to a group of kids or to a kid one-on-one. Kids knew that Joey genuinely cared about them. Joey never met a kid that he didn’t like. Joey was honored to officiate at many weddings over the years, several of them being adults who were once youth that he became close to through the church. He also officiated at several funerals over the years and he often told Kathy that these were the times when he felt his ministry was the most helpful to people.
Joey was past president of the Big Pals-Little Pals mentoring program, president of the Cherokee Little League, and also president of the Cherokee County Fund Drive. Following retirement, Joey enjoyed his almost daily coffee times with friends at the Cherokee Country Store and, being an avid reader, he enjoyed going to the Cherokee Public Library every day. He enjoyed reading the newspapers and working on crossword puzzles, which he could do quite quickly.
Joey had much joy in his life, but nothing brought him more joy than his family. Joey and Kathy were married for 55 years and were blessed with two sons, Joshua and Jacob. The boys kept Joey and Kathy busy. Joey could often be found at the ball fields coaching his boys’ baseball teams. After the season they would pack the family car and drive all over the country to Major League Baseball games and wait for hours for Jake to get autographs. Later, Joey was blessed with two grandchildren, Briana and Ethan. Grandpa Joey loved spending time with his grandchildren and loved and cherished them. He also enjoyed watching them participate in their activities and had the pleasure of watching his grandchildren play on the same ball fields that he coached his boys on.
Joey traded in his black and gold for cardinal and gold once Jake enrolled at Iowa State University in 2003. Joey loved following Iowa State University sports, and had season tickets for the Cyclones football games for almost twenty years, attending games until it was no longer possible for him due to his health. It is fitting that that final Iowa State football game that Joey watched was a victory over the Iowa Hawkeyes.
Joey lost a hard fought twenty-one-year battle with cancer at the age of 75 on September 17, 2024. Joey passed away peacefully at home, surrounded by his family. Joey was cared for by Home Hospice and Justin Rasmusson (Kathy and Joey’s nephew) of Rasmusson-Ryan Funeral Home. He is survived by Kathy, his wife of 55 years, his children, Joshua of Cherokee, Jacob and Jennifer Dyslin, his grandchildren Briana and Ethan Dyslin of Cherokee; brothers Donald Dyslin of St. Paul, MN and Larry Dyslin of Wheat Ridge, CO, and a sister, Dianne Quevado of Garland, TX. Also his wife’s siblings: Steve (Becky) Caster, Robert (Julie) Caster, Angela (Larry) Rasmusson, Kerry Kelley, many nieces, nephews, great nieces, great nephews, great-great nieces and nephews, and many other family and friends.
Joey was preceded in death by his parents, his sisters and their spouses: Dorris (Carroll) Deaton, Evelyn (Floyd) Sassman, Donna McKissock; his brothers: Vergil (Cleone) Dyslin, Harold (Elaine) Dyslin; his wife’s parents: Wendell and Janet Caster, and sisters-in-law: Darlene (Mrs. Donald) Dyslin, Elaine (Mrs. Larry) Dyslin, and Darla Kelley (Kathy’s sister).
A visitation will be 5-7 p.m. Thursday, September 19, 2024, at Meriden Evangelical Free Church (412 3rd Street) in Meriden. The funeral service will be 10:30 a.m. Friday, September 20, 2024, also at the church. The burial will be at Oak Hill Cemetery in Cherokee.
Memorial contributions in Joey’s memory may be made to the family for their use to be determined at a later date.
Rasmusson-Ryan Funeral Home in Nevada is caring for Joey and his family. Online condolences may be shared with the family at www.rasmussonfh.com.
