Joseph P. Kedley, 72 of Clinton passed away Tuesday, July 15, 2025 at home with his daughter at his side. A Mass will be celebrated at 10:30 AM on Friday, July 18, 2025 at Prince of Peace Parish. Visitation will be from 4:00 to 6:00 PM Thursday at the Pape Funeral Home. Burial will be in St. Joseph’s Cemetery, DeWitt, Iowa. Pallbearers will be Travis Hendricks, Daniel and Ryan Kedley, Oliver and Eli White, and Joseph Kedley, II.
Joseph was born on January 10, 1953 at St. Joseph’s Hospital in Dubuque, IA, the son of Loras and Mary Kedley. He was the first baby born in the iron lung due to his mother contracting polio during pregnancy. He graduated from Miles High School in 1971. Joseph went on to graduate from Northeast Missouri State University in 1975 and obtained his Master’s Degree from Dallas Institute of Mortuary Science in 1976. The academic honor of Magna Cum Laude was earned with both degrees.
Joseph was united in marriage to Barbara Flor on March 22, 1975 in Preston, IA. They raised four wonderful children together. Joseph started his funeral directing career under Robert L. Pape at Pape Funeral Home in Clinton. He went on to own and operate Haylock, O’Hara and Kedley Funeral Home in Maquoketa. During his time as a funeral director, he often traveled and consulted with other funeral directors across the state on accident restorative art cases. Joseph left the funeral industry and retired from American Mortgage of Iowa. In his retirement, he had the pleasure of caring for three of his grandchildren- Joseph, Oliver, and Eli, he lovingly referred to them as his men.
Throughout his life, Joseph was active in Jaycees, Rotary Club, Kiwanis, Knights of Columbus, Toastmasters, Sacred Heart School Board, Utilities Board, and the Mississippi Valley Funeral Directors Association. Joseph was an avid Kennedy collector. He enjoyed watching his children and grandchildren flourish, he was most proud to be “Pape Joe of Happy Joe’s Clinton.” Most importantly, he was a devoted Catholic his entire life and recited the Rosary twice daily.
Joseph is survived by his children- Elizabeth (Jason) Alt of Cedar Rapids, Karolyn (Brandon) White of Andover, Laura (AJ) McDougall of Clinton, and Thomas (Becca) Kedley of Osceola; their mother-Barbara Miller of Fulton; his brother- Patrick (Peg) Kedley of Lowden; and his 10 grandchildren- Joseph, Lauren, Thea, Oliver, Eli, Riley, Theodore, Peyton, Rockwell, and Dorothy; along with several nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents; brother- Stephen Kedley; and an infant child. Memorials may be made to the Clinton Showboat Theater. Online condolences may be left at www.papefh.com.