August 26, 1944 – May 4, 2025
Francis “Joe” Adams was born on August 26, 1944 in Lancaster, South Carolina. He passed away on May 4, 2025 at MercyOne North Iowa Medical Center in Mason City, Iowa surrounded by his family. He was raised Southern Baptist and moved to Iowa in 1974. He married Joan Kuntz on April 12, 1975. They lived in Sheffield, Iowa for most of their marriage until they moved to Mason City.
A Celebration of Life will be held starting at 1:00pm Saturday May 17, 2025 at Lucky’s Last Resort, 22500 Ulmus Ave, Plymouth, IA 50464.
Another Celebration of Life will be announced at a later date in South Carolina.
Joe was married previously in South Carolina and had a daughter Denise (Roger) Hinson along with 2 grandchildren, Roger Jr. (Bre) and April Barnes and 3 great-grandchildren, Carson, Hailey and Jayce.
Joe and Joan had 3 children, Jason (Stacy), Joey, and Julie Peltier; 8 grandchildren, Jadyn, Emily (Dorian), Isaac, Ethan, Matthew, Nalyssa, Melisa (Dakota) Jonathan, Nichole, Kristina and 2 great-grandchildren; Sparrow, Xavier.
Joe went to trade school for clock repair. He worked in the cotton mills in South Carolina before he moved to Iowa. He started working in road construction on Interstate 35 before he found work on the railroad. He worked in labor and track repair for the next 18 years. Joe had to leave the railroad due to an injury he suffered on the job. After some time he was able to do a few odd jobs before further injuries kept him away from the work.
Joe loved to fish and hunt. He enjoyed playing horseshoes and played in a number of tournaments over the years. He even managed to bring a trophy home. It always made him happy when he could beat his father-in-law in a game as it didn’t happen too often. He loved camping as a family over the years. In their younger years, Joe and Joan played volleyball in Sheffield on a co-ed volleyball team. They shared their love of the sport with their children and they played a lot together while camping with Joan’s family. Joe and Joan have had a permanent spot at Lucky’s Campground for the past 17 years. He loved spending time out there. Joe also loved going home to South Carolina to visit his family there.
Joe had long signed onto the donor registry and was able to donate his corneas and tissue through the Iowa Donor Network. He always wanted to help others even after his last breath.
Those left to honor his memory are his wife, children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, sister, Carol Nachazel in Colorado; several cousins, nieces, and nephews; and a niece that was like a daughter to him, Rose (Alan) Allman.
He was preceded in death by his parents, 3 brothers, one sister, brother-in-law, father-in-law, mother-in-law; some aunts, uncles, cousins, nephews and nieces.
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