Joe Chastain

Joe Chastain, 81, of Afton died Saturday, Aug. 8, 2020, at Unity Point Taylor House in Des Moines. A combined celebration of life service will be 10:30 a.m. Thursday, Aug. 13, 2020, at Powers Funeral Home, 612 N. Dodge St. in Afton. Pastor Mary O’Riley will officiate. Burial will be in Greenlawn Cemetery east of Afton with military honors given by the Creston Theodore J. Martens V.F.W Post No. 1797. Open visitation will be 2 to 7 p.m. Wednesday, with family receiving friends from 5 to 7 p.m. at Powers Funeral Home in Afton. Social distancing will be observed. Family requests masks be worn, and will minimize hugs and handshakes to keep everyone healthy. In lieu of flowers, memorials can be directed to the family. Online condolences can be given at www.powersfh.com.

Joe Chastain, son of Harold E. Chastain and Geraldine (Williams) Chastain, was born Feb. 4, 1939, in Leon. He graduated from Leon High School in 1957. Joe then join the U.S. Air Force in 1959, faithfully serving until 1963.

On Oct. 9, 1965, Joe married Judy Dalton in Creston. They first lived in Des Moines where Joe worked with Armstrong Tires. In 1966, they moved to Omaha, where Joe worked with Western Union as a teletype repairman. In 1990, they moved to Afton. Joe worked for CIPCO in dispatch and as a boiler operator retiring in 2004 at age 65.

Joe was a member of the Amateur Radio Relay League and enjoyed his many ham radio operation activities.

Survivors include his two sons: Jeff (Shannon) Chastain of Hebron, Kentucky, Jim (Amy) Chastain of Plattsmouth, Nebraska; daughter, Jill (Sam) McKnight of Afton; brother John (Marsha) Chastain of Lyon, Kansas; two sisters: Sara Grimm of Tuscon, Arizona and Nancy (Lee) Brenizer of Leon; brother-in-law Keith Hinds; 10 grandchildren: Kara (David) Ramirez, Joe, Katie, Krista and Jeffrey Chastain, Dalton, and Devin Chastain, Beth, Noelle and Colton McKnight; great-grandson Wesson James Labor.

Joe was preceded in death by his parents, grandson Mark James Chastain, sister Susan Hinds.