Kenneth Knox Joslyn, Jr. (82) of Effingham

Kenneth Knox Joslyn Jr., Lieutenant Colonel, USAF (Retired), 82, of Effingham, IL passed away on January 7, 2022 surrounded by family at HSHS St. Anthony’s Memorial Hospital.

Visitation will be at the First Presbyterian Church in Effingham on Saturday, January 15, 2022 from 9:00 a.m. to 12 Noon followed by a celebration of life service directly after. Services are in the care of Johnson Funeral Home in Effingham.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made directly to the Joslyn family to help with funeral expenses. Online condolences may be shared by clicking here. 

Ken was born October 4, 1939, in Minneapolis, Minnesota, the oldest son of Kenneth K. and Ann Terry Joslyn. He lived in Thief River Falls, MN, and Laramie, Wyoming, and graduated from Laramie High School and the University of Wyoming. He entered active duty in the U.S. Air Force in February 1962 and served in Oklahoma, Pakistan and Scott AFB, IL. He married Nancy Alice Micklautz of Nokomis, IL on January 22, 1966. They lived in Denver and Nashville, TN and returned to active duty in 1967 in San Antonio. He then served a second tour at Scott; Washington, DC; Okinawa, Japan; and Denver, CO. He retired from the USAF in 1985 with over 22 years of active service and moved to Effingham where they lived until his passing.

After his retirement, he went to work at the Effingham Daily News as systems manager and retired again in March 2002. He also volunteered with several Effingham organizations, including FISH, the board of the Effingham County Community Concert Association, St. Anthony’s Hospital Auxiliary (two terms on the board), the Effingham High School Band Boosters, and was very active in various leadership roles in the First Presbyterian Church. He was a full time volunteer in the Central Grade School Library for 11 years. His volunteer activities earned him the Effingham County Volunteer of the Year Award for 2016.

He enjoyed his family, long road trips (in the course of their marriage they visited all 50 states), model trains, St. Louis Cardinals baseball, and walks with his loving wife. At the time of his passing, he was a member of the American Legion, the Air Force Association, Military Officers Association of America and the Bankers Street Club.

He is survived by his wife, Nancy; daughters Stephanie (husband Lucas) Shaffer and Shana (wife Ashley) Joslyn; daughter-in-law Lori Joslyn; grandson Hunter Petersen and granddaughter Allison Shaffer; brother Jim Joslyn (wife Cyndi); niece Jenna Joslyn (partner Kevin Doll) and brother Tom (wife Sandy) Joslyn; niece Stacy (husband Tim) Conklin, and niece Leslie (husband David, great nephew Brayden, great niece Joslyn) Felando; nephew Mike (wife Tonni, great nephew Nate, great niece Abbie) Micklautz.

He was preceded in death by his parents and son, Steven Kenneth Joslyn.

Some fond memories by the family:

From Stephanie: My father was an incredible person. He was not only the best role model, but he volunteered in his free time. See my dad wasn’t ok with only being a wonderful father, but he also wanted to give back to the world and help others in need.

Dad, your love, your patience and your understanding, your wisdom and your sense of humor will live on in me forever. You have given us gifts more precious than anything in the world. Goodbye, dad. You will always live on in my heart.

From Lucas Shaffer: “He was a great kind human being. One of a kind. He was the backbone of our family and will truly be missed.”