George L. Joseph, 78, of Bettendorf, died Tuesday, June 23, 2026, at the University of Iowa Hospitals, Iowa City surrounded by his family.

Funeral services and Mass of Christian Burial for George will be celebrated at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, July 1, 2026, at Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church, Bettendorf. The Mass will be livestreamed by clicking the following link: Our Lady of Lourdes Facebook Visitation will be held on Tuesday from 4 until 6 p.m. at the Halligan-McCabe-DeVries Funeral Home with a vigil service offered at the conclusion. There will be additional visitation on Wednesday in the gathering space at church from 9:30 a.m. until Mass begins. Burial will take place at a later date in Greenlawn Cemetery, Butler, Pennsylvania. Keeping with George’s wishes, cremation has taken place. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to St. Joan of Arc Foundation.

George was born on February 28, 1948, in Butler, Pennsylvania, the son of Daniel F. and Clara J. (Moore) Joseph. He graduated from Marshall University in Huntington, West Virginia, with a degree in Advertising and Journalism. While at Marshall, he met Laura Pollitt, and they were united in marriage at the Marshall Campus Christian Center on June 1, 1971. Together they shared more than 55 years of marriage.

Following graduation, George and Laura returned to Butler, where George helped his father run the family steakhouse, Mr. Joe’s. He later continued in food service, working for ARA Food Service in the Chicagoland area and later for Black Hawk Broadcasting Company in the Waterloo/Cedar Falls area. It was there that he discovered his passion for fundraising. He directed Capital Campaigns while serving on the Board of Directors for the Waterloo YMCA and the University of Northern Iowa Athletic Club.

Moving to the Quad Cities, George formed Joseph Consulting and began directing Capital Campaigns for Catholic churches, schools and organizations, including Seton Jr. High School (Moline, IL) and the Women’s Choice Center (Bettendorf, IA). His work continued for over 30 years throughout the states of Iowa and Illinois until his time of death.

A devoted parishioner of Our Lady of Lourdes, George participated in CEW weekends and served on several parish committees, including the Finance Council. His faith was a guiding force throughout his life and was reflected in his commitment to serving others.

George enjoyed sports in every form—whether competing, watching, officiating, or simply talking about them. An avid golfer, he spent many enjoyable hours and formed lasting friendships at Davenport Country Club. He took great pride in watching his daughters and granddaughters pursue their swimming careers and was a longtime swim official himself. George also completed Grandma’s Marathon in Duluth, Minnesota, several times and looked forward to ski trips with friends.

Those left to honor his memory are his wife, Laura; daughters, Katie (Dr. Ben) Selden of Bettendorf and Emily Joseph of Denver, Colorado; and granddaughters, Mary, Abigail, and Anne. He was preceded in death by his parents, a brother, Daniel F. Joseph, Jr. and many loving aunts, uncles, and extended family.

It seems especially fitting that George's final days were spent in the shadow of the football stadium he so loved to visit with his closest friends. Many Saturdays spent there created stories, traditions, and memories that he carried with him throughout his life. More than anything, George simply wanted to be with the people he loved—sharing a meal, cheering on a game, telling stories, or enjoying an evening together. Few things made him happier than gathering around a firepit with family and friends, a good cigar in hand and a decent scotch nearby.