Joseph Boyd Balch, loving husband, father, grandfather and a 20 year United States Air Force Veteran passed away February 19, 2021 in Lincoln, Nebraska at the age of 80. Joseph was born October 22, 1940 in Seattle, Washington to Harry and Elsie (Grapenthin) Balch. Following the death of his father, Joseph and his mother moved to Denver, Colorado and then to Minden, Nebraska when he was a child. In 1958, he played on the Minden High School basketball team that won the state championship. He graduated from Minden High School.
In 1959, Joseph was scouted and participated in the Tampa Professional Baseball Camp in Florida.
At the age of 19, Joseph enlisted in the United States Air Force where he proudly served his country beginning at Mountain Home AFB in Idaho (60-63). During this tour of duty, he married Rose Ann (Cobb) and this is where his first son Todd was born. In 1961 he served TDY at Eielson AFB in Alaska and then in Upper HeyFord AB in England (63-65) where his son Timothy was born. His next tour of duty was in Toul-Rosieres AB in France (65-66) where his daughter Julie was born. Joseph served in Vietnam at Tan Son Nhut AB (66-67), back to Upper HeyFord AB in England (67-68) and then Ramstein AB in Germany (68-70) where his son Terry was born. In 1970 he served TDY at Moron AB in Spain and then Bergstrom AFB in Austin, Texas (70-76). The last tour of duty before retirement was at Kadena AB in Okinawa, Japan (76-77). Joseph returned to Bergstrom AFB in Austin, Texas and retired in 1979.
In 1984 Joseph completed associate degrees in Construction and Business at Hastings Community College. He worked for Action Advertising in 1985-1986 prior to starting his own advertising business Effective Advertising from 1986-2002 when he retired.
On May 26, 1984 he married Mary Ann (Lambert) Weiser and became a stepfather to 4 step children.
From 2007 to 2010, Joseph and Mary were host parents to a total of 7 foreign exchange students from Germany, Thailand, Hong Kong, Austria and South Korea.
Joseph was a Christian and accepted the Lord as a child. He loved bible studies, teaching and fellowship which led him to expand his education at Charis Bible College in Colorado Springs, Colorado earning a Bachelor Degree in Biblical Studies in 2013.
Joseph is survived by his wife Mary (Weiser) Balch, his four children: Todd (Angela) Balch, Timothy (Serena) Balch, Julie Burtchell and Terry Balch and four step children: Alan (Jeanette) Weiser, Britt (Diana) Weiser, Michelle (Jeff) Monhollon and Rhonda DeBey, 26 grandchildren, 23 great-grandchildren and 1 great-great grandchild.
Graveside Service will be held at 1:30 p.m., Saturday, June 19, 2021 at the Minden Cemetery, 801 W. 1st St, Minden, NE.
Memorial contributions may be directed to the family for future designation.