Joseph Allen Ihm, 95, passed away Oct. 16, 2026.
A celebration of life will be held at a later date.
Joe was born in Guttenberg on Feb. 18, 1931, the son of Herman and Lenchen (Junk) Ihm, where he turned the Mississippi River and surrounding hillsides into his lifelong playground. He graduated from the University of Northern Iowa teaching college and went on to earn his Masters in Physical Education from the University of Iowa. Following graduation he married June Zittergruen on his birthday in 1955. They moved to the suburbs of Chicago where he found work and began to raise a young family of three children. He retired from his teaching career after 20 years and moved his family back to Guttenberg. Joe worked in maintenance at the Guttenberg Municpal Hospital for several years and also served on the ambulance crew from 1975 to 1987, responding to a remarkable 830 calls during his service. He later concluded his working career with the U.S. Postal Service, where he served as a rural mail carrier until his retirement.
He never lost his love for physical education as he spent his entire life as an advocate for exercise. Even into his later years he became a competitive runner winning The Quad Cities Bix 7 Race numerous times in the Senior Division. He loved playing hockey in Dubuque for the Dubuque Senior Saints team, playing well into his 80’s, and even worked to create and maintain a community ice rink in Guttenberg.
A master story teller he was well known for telling colorful stories of his service to his country during the Korean War, his many adventures fishing and hunting, and his travels around the world. He was an encyclopedia of local history, working for years at the Lockmaster House Museum next to the Lock and Dam 10 in Guttenberg and also being influential in the work to support and promote the efforts to restore the Motor Mill Historic Site along the Turkey River near his beloved Elkader community.
His passion for the great outdoors and the beauty of the driftless area fueled his drive to protect these resources through his extensive conservation efforts from serving on the Clayton County Conservation Board to supporting numerous conservation minded organizations.
He is survived by his three children, John (Linda) Ihm and Jim Ihm of Guttenberg and Caroline Rosacker (Kevin Hanson) of Harpers Ferry; grandchildren, Amber (Matt) Cook and Joe Rosacker; great-grandchildren, Cooper, Collin, Calina, Cecilia, and Corrigan Cook; special friend and dance partner, Jean Marie Hall.
He is proceeded in death by his parents; his wife; his sister, Charlotte Nugent and son-in-law, Steve Rosacker.
