Joshua "JJ" Park, Jr.

Joshua Park Jr., 49, of Atlantic, Iowa, died Thursday, September 23, 2021, at Cass County Memorial Hospital in Atlantic.

Joshua Wallace was born on July 31, 1972, in Iowa City, Iowa, the son of Joshua Wallace Sr. and Delores Lorraine (Wittmuss) Park. He grew up in Red Oak and Elliott; moving to Atlantic when he was in 4th grade. His love for football started at a very young age, often tackling himself while playing alone in the yard. In high school he worked for his dad at Atlantic Transmission Center and at Hy-Vee. During his junior and senior year, he lived with his sister, Janet and brother, Chuck and they formed an incredible bond and had a significant influence in his life. He always looked to them for advice all the way to the end of his life. Josh graduated from Atlantic High School in 1990. He was married to Deb Stephenson-Nokes and to this union one son, Tate Ryan was born and Josh became a step-dad to Samantha and Scotty. Josh was later united in marriage to Jacqueline Butler on February 17, 2001…until the end of time, at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Atlantic. The couple was blessed with two sons, Jacob Christopher and Cole Jackson.

Family, football and fishing were the things that Josh loved most. His boys were his world and he was their biggest fan, right alongside Jacque, cheering them on at all of their activities and encouraging them in life. Josh was a favorite uncle to his niece and nephews. They adored him and loved to dogpile on him any chance they got. He always looked forward to getting together with both sides of the family at various times of the year. You could always find him satisfying his sweet tooth at the candy dish eating one right after another and smiling each time he would open a new piece…especially if there were Kit-Kats. Josh would never turn down a trip for ice cream and would without a doubt order black raspberry and swirl it just like he did as a kid to make sure it was the perfect purple. He was a lifelong Minnesota Vikings fan, continuing to cheer for them to the end even though their games often end wide right. Josh now has the best seat in the house to cheer on the Atlantic Trojans and the Vikings. He may have even played an important part in the Vikings win against the Seahawks the Sunday after he passed away. In addition to the Vikings, he would cheer for any team that was playing against the Cowboys! Josh looked forward to casting a line in the water at any farm pond that he could get access to; he could spot them a mile away.

His love of turning wrenches led to an over 30-year career as a diesel mechanic and shop foreman at Atlantic Carriers, Inc. He was a dedicated employee and even when he was away from work, he was always thinking of or talking about work. Most of the time it was acceptable, except for maybe when they were greeting people at his and Jacque’s wedding. Josh was a gentle giant, he was often described by others as quiet, kind and genuine. His smile would light up a room. Some might also say he was a little OCD after catching him with a tape measure on different occasions when cutting scotcheroos. His four-legged boys, Diesel and Maddox, loved him dearly and will miss greeting him at the end of each day with wagging tails.

Joshua will be deeply missed by his wife, Jacqueline; sons, Tate Ryan Park, Jacob Christopher Park, and Cole Jackson Park; step-daughter, Samantha Eichstadt; mother, Delores Hoover; step-mother, Leona Park; siblings, Sam (Christine) Park, Janet (Keith) Harvey and Charles (Jamey) Park; step-siblings, Don, Gene, Karmen, Kevin, Toni and Matthew; mother-in-law, Ann Butler; father-in-law, Jim (Laurel) Butler; brother-in-law, Chris (Ann) Butler; and many aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews and extended family.

He is preceded in death by his father, Joshua Park Sr., step-son, Scott Stephenson; step-sister, Laura Champlin; maternal grandparents, Gerald Wittmuss and Rose Wittmuss; and paternal grandparents, LaRue and Gertrude Park.

A Celebration of Life Memorial service will be held at 2:00 p.m., Saturday, October 9, 2021, at Hillside Hope Assembly in Atlantic. Burial will be in the Atlantic Cemetery. Visitation with the family present will be held prior to the service at the church from 12:30 p.m. - 1:30 p.m.

The service will be livestreamed and a link will be available at www.rolandfuneralservice.com and it will also be available for viewing on the funeral home website by noon on Sunday. The church requests that those attending the service please turn off their Wi-Fi so that it does not interfere with the livestream. The livestream will also be shown at Roland Funeral Home for any overflow and for those that would prefer to social distance.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to the family for designation at a later date.

Roland Funeral Service is caring for Josh's family and his arrangements. Condolences may be left at www.rolandfuneralservice.com.