Lester Joe Marsden, the son of Lester G. and Evelyn A. (Reilly) Marsden, was born June 26, 1943 in Red Oak, Iowa. He passed away peacefully, surrounded by his family on Saturday, October 25, 2014 at the Montgomery County Memorial Hospital, Red Oak, Iowa at the age of 71 years, 3 months and 29 days. Joe was raised in the Wales community. He graduated in 1960, the last class to have graduated from Wales-Lincoln High School. At the age of 17, with his parents' written permission, Joe entered the U.S. Navy on July 8, 1960. He served as the radioman to the Admiral onboard the USS Oriskany, the USS Hancock and the USS Kitty Hawk. He also served 21 months as a radioman at a communication base in the Philippines. Joe received his honorable discharge on March 27, 1964 and moved to Red Oak. Joe was united in marriage to Marilyn K. Perdue on May 30, 1964 at the First United Methodist Church in Red Oak. Following his military service, Joe worked several jobs, including a job at B.F. Goodrich Tire working with his uncle, Ray Marsden. In May of 1966, Joe began his 34-year career with the Iowa Department of Transportation Maintenance working in Red Oak for 18 years. In 1984, the family moved to Shenandoah where he worked the last 16 years for the Iowa DOT, retiring on June 30, 2000. After retiring, Joe then drove a school bus for the Shenandoah Community School District, and later for Stanton Community Schools, driving his grandson, Dylan to Bedford, to be that constant for Dylan.' He also enjoyed working for J.R. Furniture. He had fun collecting many special items: Coca-Cola memorabilia, T-shirts from their many trips, elephants, coats and gloves. He was a NASCAR fan and cheered for Dale Earnhardt. Joe and Marilyn loved to travel and treasured every trip they took with family and friends, the places they saw, and the people they met; Alaska being one of their favorite. Joe was a member of the Shenandoah American Legion Post #88, a 10-year retired Red Oak volunteer fireman and a 5-year Shenandoah volunteer fireman. Joe was a selfless and generous person, always thoughtful of others, enjoying a laugh and making others laugh. He loved supporting his daughters and grandsons in their sporting events and with Special Olympics. He loved his wife and family dearly and also his Lord and Savior. He not only said he was, a sinner saved by grace', he lived it and shared it. In March of 2014, Joe and Marilyn moved back to Red Oak. Joe was preceded in death by his parents, Lester and Evelyn; father-in-law and mother-in-law, Glen and Mayme Perdue; and brother, Jim. Joe is survived by his wife of 50 years, Marilyn Marsden of Red Oak, IA; two daughters and their husbands: Jill and Rob Kinser of Stanton, IA, and Ann and Jeff Slater of Shenandoah, IA; two grandsons: Zachary Kinser and Rachel Douglas and Tristan, and Dylan Kinser; brother, Ken Marsden and wife Carolyn of Red Oak, IA; sister-in-law, Donnie Marsden of Greensburg, IN; brother-in-law, Virden Perdue and wife Jo of Red Oak, IA; and sister-in-law, Judy Harrold and husband Gene of Henderson, IA; nieces and nephews, other relatives and many friends. May God bless his memory and give strength to those who mourn. Celebration of Life Service will be held Wednesday, October 29, 2014 at 10:30 a.m. at First United Methodist Church, Red Oak, IA Burial with Military Rites by U.S. Navy at Evergreen Cemetery, Red Oak, IA Pastor Nathan Little and Pastor Fred Pilecki, Officiating Visitation with the family on Tuesday evening from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. at Sellergren-Lindell-DeMarce Funeral Home, Red Oak. Family requests memorials in lieu of flowers in Joe's name. Sellergren-Lindell-DeMarce Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.