Joseph William Hyde, age 78, passed away peacefully in his home surrounded by family on Wednesday, April 12th, 2023. A public visitation will be held on Saturday, April 22, 2023, at Grandon Funeral & Cremation Care (414 Lincoln Way, Ames Iowa, 50010) from 11:00 a.m. until 1:00 p.m., with a memorial service following the visitation at 1:00 p.m. Online condolences may be directed to www.grandonfuneralandcremationcare.com

Joe was born at home to Glen and June Hyde on December 25th, 1944, in Hitt, Missouri. He graduated from Memphis High School in 1962. After high school, Joe enlisted in the United States Air Force, serving in the Philippines for a year and a half; he was then stationed in California, Texas, and Wisconsin. After his discharge from the military, he worked at the Iowa Army ammunition plant in Burlington, Iowa. He then utilized the G.I. bill to attend and graduate from Northeast Missouri State University (now Truman State) in 1976 with a Bachelor of Science in Psychology. In 1976 he moved to Iowa to work as a Correctional Officer at the Anamosa prison. He then moved to Ames, Iowa, where he worked in a halfway house. For a time, he worked at Presto-X pest control. He then returned to work as a correctional officer before retiring in 2011.

Joe and Dixie Jo Fiester were united in marriage on October 2nd, 1976. A son, Justin Joseph, and a daughter, Emily June, were born into this union. Dixie preceded him in death on October 17th, 2018.

Joe loved to play pool and ride his bicycle. He once rode his bike from Ames, Iowa, to Memphis, Missouri, and back. He loved to pedal out into the county to smell the flowers and see the sites; he would often come home with odd nick-nacks he found on the side of the road. He played pool at the Corner Pocket in Ames, Iowa, and was the 2013 Senior pool champion. Throughout his life, he often returned to Memphis, Missouri; his heart really belonged there. Joe loved nothing more than a hot summer day. In his later years, you were likely to find him sitting under the sun in a folding chair. Once last summer, I sat beside him and asked, "Dad, what would you like me to put in your obituary?" He replied, "Well, I suppose you should mention I was born at home in Hitt, Missouri, and I'm just a farm boy at heart."

Survivors include his daughter, Billie Jo Waddle (Kevin), from a previous marriage; his son Justin and grandson Ivan, of Des Moines, Iowa; and his daughter Emily Hyde (Edward Bignar), of Ames, Iowa. Joe is also survived by a sister, Marcine Evans of Memphis, Missouri; brother Bob Hyde (Marlene) of Lewiston, Idaho; and a brother, Dick Hyde (Jan) of Kirksville, Missouri. Joe was preceded in death by his parents, his wife Dixie, a sister, Jean Lancaster, two brothers, Donald and James Hyde, and a niece, Karen Waibel Shepherd.