Joseph Van OOrt

Joseph Homer Van Oort, 68, passed away on January 21, 2026, in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. Visitation with family will be held from 4 to 7 p.m. on Tuesday, February 3, at Cedar Memorial Park Funeral Home. 

Joe was the first baby born in Hancock County on January 1, 1958, and he was raised in Garner, Iowa. Throughout his life, Joe was devoted to hard work and helping others. His unmatched work ethic formed at a young age, walking beans on local farms and playing high school basketball, where he earned the “Mr. Hustle” award. In his early twenties, he became a state- and national-level arm wrestling champion.

Joe then went on to spend more than three decades as an electrical power lineman. He would bike nearly ten miles along the trail (even in the winter) to Alliant Energy and worked in countless ice storms and heat waves to put people’s power back on. Among his proudest moments as a lineman were traveling to Louisiana and New York to assist with recovery efforts during Hurricane Katrina and Hurricane Sandy.

Joe moved to Cedar Rapids, Iowa, in the late 1980s and met Amy Severide, his life partner. When he wasn’t out fixing power lines, Joe was in the backyard playing baseball with his two sons, Jack and Sam. When they became adults and Joe retired, he was usually at the gym or having a Budweiser with one of them. His sons were his best friends and the pride and joy of his life. 

Joe will be remembered most for being genuine, strong, humble, and for having a great laugh and sense of humor. Tragically, Joe’s life was taken far too soon by early-onset Alzheimer’s dementia, which he lived with for ten difficult years. The “long goodbye” is something that no family should have to suffer through. In lieu of flowers, donations are encouraged to organizations that support those diagnosed with the disease, conduct research towards a cure, or advocate for death with dignity. 

Joe is survived by his family: Jack, Sam, Allante, and Amy; daughter-in-law Lauren; brothers Rich and Mike; sisters Mary, Rhonda, and Julie; his mother June; and numerous nieces, nephews, friends, and extended family. He was preceded in death by his father Homer and his beloved dog, Dutchie. 

Online condolences may be directed to the family at www.cedarmemorial.com under obituaries