Walter Joseph Adams, 80, of Stacyville, passed away Tuesday, Dec. 27, 2011, at St. Marys Hospital in Rochester, Minn.

Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 31, 2011, at Visitation Catholic Church in Stacyville, Iowa, with Father Jack McClure, CPPS, officiating. Burial will be in Visitation Catholic Cemetery with military honors at the grave by American Legion Hale Penney Fuller Post 569 of Stacyville. Friends may greet the family from 4 to 7 p.m. Friday at Visitation Catholic Church in Stacyville with a rosary at 4:30 p.m. Visitation will continue one hour before services at the church on Saturday.

Walter was born April 24, 1931, at Stacyville, Iowa, to Ernest and Clara (Thome) Adams. He graduated from Visitation High School in Stacyville in 1949. He worked for a water tower painting company in Cresco, Iowa, right out of high school, and Hatten and Sons and Stacyville Lumber Company when he returned from serving his country. He served in battle during the Korean Conflict from 1951 to 1953, when he was honorably discharged. On April 24, 1954, he married Joan Ulven of Austin, Minn., at Visitation Catholic Church in Stacyville. Walter began his own painting and decorating business in 1963, painting barns, houses, interior decorating, interiors of area churches and lettering signs. Walter served on the Stacyville Fire Department for 60 years and was very proud of the new fire station. He served as chaplain of the American Legion Hale Penney Fuller Post 569 of Stacyville, taking care to put out the flags on Memorial Day and keeping records of the cemetery plots. He served as a Cub Scout Leader for several years, receiving the Scouter’s Key. He served on the Commercial Club and was instrumental in the formation of the annual Stacyville Bratwurst Daze when the carnival came to town. Following in his father’s footsteps, he was the custodian of the Stacyville Cemetery located west of Stacyville. He took pride in its upkeep and gathering history of those buried there. Walter’s favorite holiday was Christmas. He enjoyed seeing generations of children visiting with Santa for more than 60 years. He enjoyed getting together with his family every Friday night for beer and cards.

Walter is survived by his wife, Joan Adams of Stacyville; children, Julie (Allyn) Brumm of Stacyville, Janet (Gerry) Probst of Appleton, Wis., Jay (Mary) Adams of Stacyville, Jude (Kenny) Adams of Stacyville, Jo (Brian) Saltou of Riceville, and Julene (Randy) Mueller of Stacyville; grandchildren, Corissa Meek, Allison Hemann, Scott Brumm, Michelle Gossen, Carie Fischer, Candi Probst, Cathy Rosenow, Paula Beyer, Kyle Adams, Kory Adams, Kelly Adams, Ray Mueller, Sarah Mueller; great-grandchildren, Jordan and Alexis Meek, Raelei and Austin Hemann, Bryanna Vokoun, Abbey, Avery and Aidan Gossen, Anna Hatton and Gavin Fischer, Breahna and A.J. Rosenow, Spencer and Madison Beyer.

He is also survived by a brother, Ted (Carol) Adams of Rochester, Minn.; sisters, Theresa (Dale) Mauer, Louise Walk and Veronica (Ken) Koenigs, all of Stacyville; brothers-in-law, Duane Ulven of Austin, Minn., and Donald (Marion) Ulven of Buffalo, Mo., sisters-in-law, Jane Gerbig of Stacyville and Sherry (Darrell) Kroneman of Austin; and many nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.

He was preceded in death by his parents; brother, Eugene Adams; brother-in-law, Larry Walk; and a nephew and a niece.

Information is available and condolences accepted at www.champion-bucheitfuneralhome.com, Champion-Bucheit Funeral Home, 641-732-3706.