Joseph & Gladys Huibsch Endowed Scholarship

Joseph Carlyle Huibsch was born June 10, 1927 at Eagle Grove to Martin and Mary (Flynn) Huibsch. He graduated from Eagle Grove High School in 1945. He attended Eagle Grove Junior College and graduated from Ellsworth Community College in 2003. He served in the U.S. Navy from 1945-46, the U.S. Navy Reserve from 1946-58 and the Iowa Army National Guard from 1967-73. Joe was a jeweler and hearing aid dealer and owned Joseph’s LTD. Jewelers from 1967 until his retirement in 2005. He was also active in the Iowa Falls community. He served as mayor during two different periods. He was first elected in 1972 and served one term and was again elected in 1982 and served a single term. Joe was also instrumental in starting and served as a member of the North Hardin County Emergency Squad for many years and also served on the Ellsworth Municipal Hospital Board of Trustees from 1996 to 2001. He was a member of St. Mark’s Catholic Parish where he served as Eucharistic Minister. He was also a member of many organizations including: the Veterans of Foreign Wars, the 34th Division Association, the Independent Order of Odd Fellows Lodge #100, the Loyal Order of the Moose Lodge #1331, the Benevolent Protectorate Order of the Elks Lodge #1674, the National Rifle Association and the National Rifle & Pistol Association. He served as a member and past president of the Iowa State Jewelers Association, the Iowa Guild of American Gem Society, the Iowa Association of Hearing Health Professionals, and the Iowa Falls Lions Club. He also was a member and past Grand Knight of the Frank McGivney Knights of Columbus Council #5835 and a member and past commander of the Hyman-Peavey American Legion Post #188 and a past County American Legion Commander. He married Gladys Margaret Swenson on August 8, 1967 in Calmar. Joe died in 2008. 
     Gladys Margaret (Swenson) Huibsch was born July 4, 1919 on her family’s farm near Ellsworth to Oscar and Lena Bratteig Swenson. She graduated from Randall High School in 1938. She trained as a watchmaker and came to Iowa Falls in 1950 to manage her uncle’s jewelry store, Hellberg’s Watch & Diamond Shop. She met Joe in Iowa Falls and following their marriage bought her uncle’s store and changed the name to Joseph’s LTD. She retired in 2004. Gladys is a member of Bethany Lutheran Church. Gladys served as a treasurer for the Iowa Falls Historical Society for 15 years. She is a life member of the Ellsworth Municipal Hospital Auxilary and serves as a volunteer in the hospital gift shop. She is a also a life member of the American Legion Auxilary and belongs to the Christian Woman’s Club, the Iowa Falls Women’s Club and was a member of the Business & Professional Women from 1951-2006. In her spare time she enjoys crafts, volunteering and sewing. ​