Allan Joos

Allan Joos, 83, of Wimbledon, ND, passed away peacefully on June 2, 2009 in Bismarck, ND.

His loving and devoted children survive him: daughters Alana Joos and Janna Joos of Palm Springs, CA and his son Robert and (Daly) Joos of Wimbledon, ND.

He was preceded in death by his mother Lottie L (Tigh) Joos, father Robert H. Joos, his three brothers David, Lorne and Grant and his two sisters, Charlotte (Kelly) and Lillie Mae (Hightower), and his wife Vivian (Dillard) and stepmother Ada (Green) Joos, (both in 2008).

Allan was born on the family?s homestead farm during the heart of the Great Depression and placed his permanent roots there ever since. He was proud of his heritage and very connected to the land where he was born and raised. He was a tried and true North Dakotan who had a pioneer spirit unmatched by few. He grew up in a farm family and learned from an early age that it was important to be frugal and to work hard. While his brothers and sisters chose other professions and moved away from home, Allan took over the farm from his father and began a successful career as a farmer.

After high school he entered the U.S. Army, serving in the U.S. occupational forces in Honshu, Japan. He earned the rank of Gun Corporal A44 with the 99th Field Artillery Battalion of the 1st Cavalry Division, earning a World War II Victory Medal and the Army of Occupation Medal. He was 2nd in command of the 105 mm Howitzer, set sites and leveled the gun. After military service he studied animal husbandry for a short time at North Dakota State University.

Allan spent his winter months with the Joos family in Texas and dabbled in sideline occupations by helping his brother Lorne at Sandy?s Drive-In, sold shoes for his brother Grant at Joos Shoes, drove taxi and even sold vacuum cleaners. He had an outgoing personality and could adapt to any environment. With his ?gift of gab? he could sell anything to anyone.

While in Texas Allan met his wife Vivian Loraine Dillard and they married in Corpus Christi, TX on March 30, 1949. They were husband and wife for nearly 59 years. The newlyweds took over the Joos farm in Wimbledon, raised three children and ran a very successful farming operation for over 40 years. Together they focused their joint energy on providing for their family. Allan loved Vivian with his heart and soul and since her passing he has spoken lovingly about her continuously. It is the family?s prayer that they are reunited and in God?s tender care.

Allan was an avid sportsman. He went on numerous hunting and fishing expeditions in the Dakotas, Minnesota, Montana, Texas and Canada. His trophies included moose, bear, caribou, wild boar, mule deer, antelope and smaller game and fish. He even tackled a rattlesnake in Arizona that he proudly displayed.

He was a collector of historical artifacts, antique guns, Indian arrowheads and antiques, rocks and gems, documents from the Old West and held a tremendous amount of knowledge about the good old days of the horse and buggy era. He refurbished over a dozen antique tractors and handcrafted artwork out of old barbed wire, horseshoes and antique tools. He embodied the true pioneer spirit of America.

Allan served as the President of the Prairie View Cemetery Assoc. since 1962 and is a Past Master of the Masonic Lodge in Wimbledon, ND. During the winter months in the 60?s, Allan started a snowmobile business in Jamestown with Cliff Tweed. He was a Polaris dealer, sold and repaired snowmobiles and sponsored machines in several snowmobile races.

During the 1980?s and 90?s he and Vivian enjoyed many winters in their home in Quartzsite, AZ where they made lots of new friends. Allan got bitten by the VW Bug and converted his into a desert dune buggy so he could roam around the hills in search of gold. He staked several mining claims in Quartzsite and enjoyed numerous gold mining expeditions, searching for and finding sizable gold nuggets that he proudly displayed.

His network of friends extended from coast to coast. Allan and Vivian were very popular with their CB radio buddies and often had out of town guests or would take trips to visit their friends.

From 2002 to present Allan and Vivian (until her passing) spent winters with their daughters in California where they enjoyed a lot of quality time and personal attention. Allan spent the rest of his time on the farm assisting his son Robert with the farming. He was actively running tractors and combines through harvest time of 2008 and was looking forward to going home again to participate in another crop season. In 1996 the ND recognized The Joos Farm as a Century Farm for having been a homestead farm, in the family name, since 1882.

Allan was a hard-working and dedicated husband and father. He was a great provider who learned all he knew from a combination of life?s experiences and his own search for knowledge. He was an avid reader of history, finance, economics, and health and was up to date on world news as it happened.

Allan was faithful to his wife Vivian, his family and to the heritage and traditions into which he was born. We salute an American Patriot, sportsman, farmer and pioneer and feel blessed to have had your beacon of light shining over us for 83 years.

Funeral service: 10:30 AM, Friday, June 5, 2009 at St. John?s United Methodist Church of Wimbledon, ND.

Visitation: None Scheduled

Burial: Prairie View Cemetery in Wimbledon, ND and honored with a military salute. A reception will be held at the church after interment.

The Joos Family in Palm Springs, CA and Wimbledon, ND requests that any donations be made to The Prairie View Cemetery Assoc. and mailed to Darrell Martin, 9020 19th Street SE, Courtenay, ND 58426.

Arrangements with the Eddy Funeral Home in Jamestown, ND.

On line guestbook: www.eddyfuneralhome.com