Joseph William Kosiba, age 45 of Cherokee, IA, passed away Sunday, March 9, 2025, near Cherokee, IA. A Celebration of Life Open House will be held on Saturday, March 22nd, 2025, from 1:00 pm to 4:00 pm at the Masonic Lodge in Moville, IA. The Greenwood-Schubert Funeral Home in Cherokee, IA, Is assisting the family with arrangements. Online condolences may be sent to the family at www.greenwoodfuneral.com.
On March 23rd, 1979, in Onawa, Iowa, the cold solitary months of winter finally receded. Spring’s crisp, cool breeze roamed free to lovingly nuzzle the still frost-bitten fields…and on that special day, God to blessed Dennis Lee and Cinda Sue Kosiba with the birth of their 5th child, Joseph William Kosiba.
The first few years of Joe’s life were filled with love and childhood excitement. He enjoyed spending time with his siblings and many cousins as they embraced the adventure and shenanigans on the family farms. Eventually, the family made their way to Sioux City where Joe discovered a different pace of life that was filled with many more friends, family, and special moments captured in the memory of time.
Joe started elementary school at Longfellow in Sioux City, IA, but then transferred to Whittier. He played in the park by Lewis’s pool with his brothers and sisters, swam at Lewis pool, played football behind ATT& T, basketball up at Whittier school playground, and like any young boy, Joe loved riding his bike around Morningside as fast as any grade-schooler could.
Joe, a sensitive and shy child with a sheepish smile and curious mind grew into a soft-hearted, gentle man whose kindness, compassion, and love was without bounds.
Growing up, Joe had fun boating and exploring the ever-changing currents of Missouri while holding onto logs, his siblings, and sometimes his uncle, Jerry, who has now passed. As an adult, Joe found solace along the banks of the little Sioux as he meandered along the countless paths of overgrown wild columbine, fragile purple violets, crisp catnip, inconspicuous poison ivy, and the pirouetting sunflowers twirling uninhibited along the trails.
Joe was a humble and modest man. He has spent the last few years of his life growing spiritually. He practiced meditation, yoga, and mindfulness while embracing the ideas, techniques, and emotions that keep us connected to one and other.
Joe worked many jobs in his life including fast food, welding, maintenance, carpentry, and factory. Two of the proudest moments of his life were when he became a dad to Dallas and Britany Kastli. Family was very important to Joe and whether you were his kids, siblings, in-laws, nieces, nephews, cousins, etc.… his family seemed to always be on his mind.
Now, it is our turn to keep him at the front our minds. We are so grateful that Joe chose to be a consistent part of our lives. He may be gone, but he left us with enough threads of his love to weave a blanket of kindness, positivity, and support to keep us warm during this time of grief. His life connects our most special memories and now his memory will amplify our joy and gratitude in the present moment and the future.
Joseph William Kosiba is survived by his son, Dallas Kastli; his daughter, Brittany Kastli; Mother, Cinda Purgett; Father, Dennis Kosiba; Step-mom, Julie Kosiba; Brothers, Jason Kosiba, Jeff Kosiba, Leeland Purgett, and Eric Purgett ; Sisters, Jamie Conover, Jan Kosiba, April Spears, and numerous nieces, nephews, in-laws, aunts, uncles, and cousins.
