Joel William Bashaw was born at Rosary Hospital in Corning, Iowa at sunrise on March 10, 1954 to Herb and Wilma (Lynam) Bashaw and entered into eternal rest at sunset on February 24, 2024. Joel fought a short but brave battle with cancer and passed away at home surrounded by his beloved family.

Joel spent his childhood growing up on a farm outside of Villisca, Iowa. As a young boy, he spent hours "planting and harvesting" his mother's garden, swimming at the Villisca pool on hot summer days and wreaking havoc on his sister, Jeanne. As he got older, he loved helping his dad on the farm which only deepened his love of farming. He also enjoyed driving his muscle car around town, participating in 4-H and school activities such as playing the trombone in jazz band.

Joel graduated from Villisca Community Schools in 1972 and enrolled in Iowa State University where he was a member of the Beta Theta Pi Fraternity. During his junior year at college, he met his future wife, Marlene Holmes, while attending a dance at the Elks Club in Shenandoah that featured Duane Dick at the Jive Five. Joel and Marlene were married a short time later on August 23, 1975 at the Emmanuel Lutheran Church in Shenandoah.

After graduating with a Bachelor of Science in agricultural business in 1976, Joel and Marlene moved to a farm outside of Villisca and began building their life together. During the time they resided in the Villisca area, they welcomed three children: Elizabeth Jean in 1980, Heidi Marie in 1982 and Todd William in 1984.

In 1989 Joel and Marlene began construction on their home in Shenandoah with the help of his father-in-law, Marlin Holmes. Upon the completion of the house in 1990, Joel, Marlene and their children moved to Shenandoah where Joel began expanding his farming career.

Joel's passion in life was his 47 year farming career as a 4th generation farmer. He also enjoyed traveling, water and snow skiing, golfing, reading his way through the encyclopedias and other nonfiction and historical books.

Watching cop shows, cooking shows, the news and reading obituaries on KMA were a few of his other favorite pastimes. Additionally, Joel served on the Shenandoah Community Foundation Board and as a Commissioner on the Page County Soil and Water Conservation Board, was a member of the Elks Club and a member of the Emmanuel Lutheran Church where he was proud to serve on the Church Council for a short amount of time.

Two grandchildren eventually entered Joel 's life, Grayson in 2011 and Hattie in 2015. He adored them both and loved watching them grow, attending their activities and dishing out lots of tormenting, which they threw right back at him.

Joel was preceded in death by his, parents Herb and Wilma (Lynam) Bashaw. He is survived by his loving wife of 48 years, Marlene (Holmes) Bashaw of Shenandoah; three children; Elizabeth Bashaw of Omaha, Heidi (Bashaw) Eide and husband Eric of Omaha, and Todd Bashaw of Shenandoah; sister; Jeanne Jones and a nephew; Brent Jones and wife Myra of Dallas and a brother; Tom Bashaw of Lake of the Ozarks; two grandchildren; Grayson and Hattie Eide of Omaha as well as numerous cousins, other extended family members and many friends.

Celebration of Life Memorial Service will be held 11:00 a.m., Thursday, March 7, 2024 at the Emmanuel Lutheran Church in Shenandoah.  Memorial Visitation will be held from 5:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m., Wednesday, March 6, 2024 at Elm Street Grill located at 1800 S. Elm Street in Shenandoah.  Memorials may be directed to the Emmanuel Lutheran Church (Organ Fund) or Methodist Estabrook Cancer Center.