Joe Franklin Lindsey, the son of Archie and Dortha (King) Lindsey was born October 5, 1919 in Red Oak, Iowa. He passed away on Friday, January 20, 2017 at Clearview Home, Mt. Ayr, Iowa at the age of 97 years, 3 months and 15 days.

Joe was raised in the rural Red Oak area. He attended Walnut and Garfield country schools and Red Oak High School. Following school, Joe immediately began working with his Grandpa Judd in his auto salvage yard. He learned a lot from his grandpa and it would serve him well in life, it was called, "scrappin." Joe was united in marriage to Vera I. Bateman on May 2, 1942 at St. Joseph, Missouri. Joe entered the U. S. Army on October 12, 1942, serving during WW II with the 96th Division and 3rd Battalion 381st Infantry in the Philippines and Okinawa. He received the purple heart and was honorably discharged on March 19, 1946 after spending nearly a year at O'Reilly General Hospital, Springfield, Missouri. Joe returned to Red Oak, and with Vera at his side, operated Lindsey Garage and Wrecker Service, where he continued the salvage, scrappin and u-pull-it parts. In the early 1950's, Joe began stock car racing. The racing bug kept Joe captive, racing at Playland Speedway until the early 1960's, when a wreck nearly took his life; he never raced again. In the late 1990's, Joe retired but was still prepared to help if someone needed any parts. Joe was a past Red Oak Volunteer Fire Fighter and past member of the American Legion and V.F.W. of Red Oak. Joe moved to Mt. Ayr in May of 2015 to be closer to his daughter.

Joe was preceded in death by his parents; wife, Vera on March 10, 2009; daughter, Jackie on July 1, 2004; granddaughter, Shelley and great-grandson, Triston.

Joe is survived by his daughter, Judy Cooper and husband Jerry of Tingley, IA; two grandchildren: Jeff Cooper and wife Julie of Grand Junction, IA and Julie Ackley and husband Jason of Tingley, IA; great-granddaughter, Hanna Ackley; other relatives and friends.

Funeral Service will be held

Monday, January 23, 2017 at 10:30 a.m.

At Sellergren-Lindell-DeMarce Funeral Home, Red Oak

Burial with Military Rites in Evergreen Cemetery, Red Oak

Visitation and viewing on Monday, January 23, 2017 from 9:30 until service time at 10:30 at Sellergren-Lindell-DeMarce Funeral Home.

Family requests memorials to Hospice of Central Iowa in lieu of flowers.

Sellergren-Lindell-DeMarce Funeral Home in charge of arrangements