Brenda K. Joseph, 61, of Geneseo, died Sunday, June 7, 2009, surrounded by her loving family at Genesis Medical Center, Illini Campus, Silvis. Funeral services celebrating her life were held Wednesday, June 10, at Concordia Lutheran Church, Geneseo. The Rev. Dr. Daniel Olson and the Rev. Gary Wright officiated. Burial was in Oakwood Cemetery, Geneseo. Visitation was held Tuesday, June 9 at Vandemore Funeral Home, Geneseo. Memorials may be made to the Brenda Joseph Memorial Fund, to be distributed to numerous local charities.

She was born May 13, 1948, in Davenport, Iowa, the daughter of Warren and Edith (Dahl) Stahl. She was a 1966 graduate of J.D. Darnall High School, Geneseo, and a 1967 graduate of Sterling School of Cosmetology. She married Gary Joseph Aug. 30, 1969, in Geneseo. She began her career as a beautician at Enid’s Coiffure Center, Moline. They moved to DeKalb where she continued her career and helped put her husband through Northern Illinois University. She was currently employed through the Geneseo School District at Southwest Grade School as their cafeteria manager. She was a member of Concordia Lutheran Church, where she was on the Board of Education, taught Sunday school for 30 years and coordinated numerous children’s Christmas programs and summer Vacation Bible Schools. She enjoyed reading, crafts, walking with friends, weekend rides in the Corvette and evenings with the “Crazy 8’s”. The joys of her life were her children, grandson, sisters, friends, the children of Southwest Elementary School, and Concordia Lutheran Sunday school. She will be remembered by all for her unique, wonderful laugh and a compassionate heart.

Survivors include her husband, Gary; three children and spouse, Kimberly of Geneseo, Sean of Geneseo and Troy and Amy of Rock Island; a grandson, Shane, of Rock Island; her mother and stepfather, Edith and Harold Atwell of Atkinson; two sisters, Barbara DeDecker of Atkinson and Beverly Miller of Geneseo; and several aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews and cousins. She was preceded in death by her father.