Observations all along the line - Kimball & the Southern Panhandle First

Joseph H. Rasgorshek

Joseph "Joe" Henry Rasgorshek, 81, died January 20,2017, at a Nampa care facility from complications related to Parkinson's Disease.

Joe was born Jan. 17, 1936, to Eugene and Jessamine "Jada" Tierney Rasgorshek in Kimball, Nebraska. He was the oldest of six children. After graduating from Kimball County High School, Joe attended the University of Nebraska, while working on the family farm in Banner and Kimball Counties. His adventurous spirit interrupted these studies when he drove to Central America with friends.

Later a visit to Colorado State University resulted in a blind date with Jessie June Jeffers, and the beginning of their life-long love and friendship. They married Sept. 17, 1960, at Our Lady of the Mountains Catholic Church in Estes Park, Colorado. After they were married, Joe completed his agriculture degree at CSU and they returned to Kimball where he continued farming.

In 1965, he decided to pursue his longtime interest of farming in Southwestern Idaho, so Joe and Jessie packed up their young family to begin this new adventure in Nampa. Thanks to the help of Nampa farmer Henry Burback, also a Kimball native, Joe fulfilled his dream, farming for 35 years, in an irrigated area where he could raise a diversity of crops. His oldest son, Paul, joined him in farming, and they worked together until Joe's health forced him to retire.

Joe was a long-time parishioner of St. Paul's Catholic Church, and a member of the Knights of Columbus, a Catholic fraternal organization. He served on the Producer's Co-op Board and was a member of Countrymans Club.

One of the unspoken philosophies of his life was "Anything worth doing is worth doing right." This was evident in his work ethic as well as the examples shown to his family. And often he would display his faith by assuring us there is a reason for everything and God will show us the way.

His family was always a source of pride, and in the last few years offered him great support and help. He is survived by his wife, Jessie; two sons, Paul and his wife Marilyn Rasgorshek of Nampa, and Mark Rasgorshek of Twin Falls, Idaho; three daughters, Beth Rasgorshek and her husband Michael Benton of Nampa, Lora Kamp and her husband Ron of Daniel, Wyoming, and Jane Banner and her husband Ken of Palo Cedro, California; 11 grandchildren, Tyler Kamp and his wife Heather, Jay Rasgorshek, Kyle Rasgorshek, Kelsey Cloney and her husband Garrett, Mallory Banner, Trent Banner, Dalton Rasgorshek, Karli Rasgorshek, Drake Rasgorshek and Brady Rasgorshek; a great granddaughter, Aubrey Kamp; four sisters, Marie Janicek of Kimball, Nebraska, Dorothy Lindsley and her husband Wallace of Rio Rancho, New Mexico, Ann McDonald and her husband Stuart of Loveland, Colorado, Judy Bayne of Bridgeport, Nebraska; one brother, Ed Rasgorshek and his wife Verleen of Omaha, Nebraska; a sister-in-law JoAnna Jeffers of Greeley, Colorado; and numerous nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents, and two brother-in-laws.

The family is grateful to the staff of Karcher Estates for their care of Joe. A rosary will be held at 7:00 P.M. Thursday, January 26,2017 at the Nampa Funeral Home, Yraguen Chapel. Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 11:00 A.M. Friday, January 27,2017 at St. Paul's Catholic Church, 510 W. Roosevelt, Nampa, Idaho. Burial will follow at the Mt. Calvary Cemetery in Nampa. An online guest book is available at http://www.nampafuneralhome.com

If you wish to make a donation in Joe's memory, the family suggests memorials to St. Paul's Church, Building on Faith, 1515 8th St. South, Nampa, ID 83651 or Northwest Parkinson's Foundation, 7525 SE 24th Street, Suite 300, Mercer Island, WA 98040.

 
 
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