Joseph D. "Joe" Alexander.... Age 90

VISITATION: 6-8PM MONDAY, MAY 9, 2016
EDDY-BIRCHARD FUNERAL HOME

SERVICE: 11AM TUESDAY, MAY 10, 2016
LANE UNITED METHODIST CHURCH
LANE, KANSAS
with Military Honors
Cremation following with burial at a
later date.

MEMORIAL: LANE SENIOR CENTER

Memorials may be sent in care of :
Eddy-Birchard Funeral Home
P.O. Box 430
Osawatomie, KS 66064


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Joseph D. "Joe" Alexander, age 90, of Lane, Kansas, passed away peacefully at his home on Wednesday, May 4, 2016.

Joe was born October 6, 1925 at his family home in Lane, Kansas, the youngest of James William Sr. and Susan Rose (Horn) Alexander's four children.  He attended school in Lane, graduating from Lane High School with the class of 1942. He then served in the US Army in World War II, and is a Purple Heart recipient for his service in Europe.

Joe had been acquainted with Katherine E. "Katy" LaFollette while growing up in Lane, but really got to know her at Cameron Institute church camp. They soon became a permanent pair, and even though Joe was a WWII veteran, he had to get written permission from his mother to marry Katy on his 20th birthday, October 6, 1945.  Joe and Katy were married nearly 70 years prior to Katy's passing in February 2015.

They first lived in Lane and had two children, Loretta Sue, and Richard Eugene. Joe worked as an electrician, installing electricity in many Franklin and Anderson County homes. After that he worked for Franklin County, then studied and did TV and radio repair in the early 60's. He and Katy served several years in 4-H, where he taught about electricity.

Joe and Katy moved to Katy's family's farm northwest of Lane in the late 60's. He farmed and drove bus for Lane School/Central Heights, eventually driving for a total of 20 years.

Joe was active in the Lane VFW, acting as quartermaster for many years and commander for several years. He served on the Lane Fair board for several years, as well as the transportation division of the Council on Aging's Meals on Wheels program.

Joe and Katy did most things together, like the Old Dodgers CB club, where his call sign was Alley Cat, and Katy's was Katydid.  Joe and Katy were very much in love, and were rarely apart. If you saw one, you saw them both, until she passed last year.

Joe was preceded in death by his parents, his daughter Loretta Sue (Alexander) Payden in 2010, his wife Katherine E. (LaFollette) Alexander in 2015, and two great grandchildren.

Joe is survived by his son Richard Alexander and daughter-in-law Pamela of Lane, KS, his son-in-law Darrell Payden of Enid, OK, and by eight grandchildren, twenty-four great-grandchildren, and five great-great-grandchildren, along with other family and friends.