Joseph M. Stinson

Joseph M. “Joe” Stinson, 91, died in St. Joseph Regional Medical Center, Plymouth , of congestive heart failure at 2:30 p.m. on Monday, January 6, 2003. Born in Akron, Ind., on June 21, 1911, he was the son of Scott K. and Ella Shesler Stinson. The family moved to Chicago when Joe was five. As a child, he was never very much interested in school work. A born artist, he preferred to spend his time drawing and sketching the teacher and fellow students. He attended high school in Chicago and took art classes at the Chicago Art Institute. As soon as he was old enough to work, Joe got a job at the prestigious Marshall Fields department store where he worked for seven years in the dress design department. During the depression, he tried several other jobs. In 1938, he went to southern Illinois , to work in the oil fields. It was there that he discovered an interest in welding. The art of welding created a method of making a living and satisfying his artistic talents at the same time. On October 14, 1933 , in Sandoval , Ill. , Joe took as his bride, Gertrude “Louise” Dolsen. The couple moved to Downers Grove, Ill., where they were living when W.W.II broke out. Ineligible for the service because of an injury that resulted in the loss of his right eye, Joe did his part by working in the shipyards of Seneca, Ill., building LSTs. After the war ended, Joe and Louise moved to Plymouth where they established the Stinson Metalcraft business located on W. Jefferson St . For over 40 years, he designed and fabricated artistic iron products. A superb craftsman, Joe was able to duplicate any existing decorative ironwork desired. His talents will live on in such enduring monuments as the beautiful railings and columns that grace the porches and stairways of the home once owned by former Gov. Otis R. Bowen in Bremen . He designed and painstakingly put together piece by piece the gorgeous antique fence surrounding the home of the late Esther Bosworth on S. Michigan Street , Plymouth . Versatile as well as talented, he designed numerous ornamental iron items such as beds, tables, lamps, fences and chandeliers for customers through out the country. Joe’s designs were chosen for the cover for the Marshall County History Sesquicentennial book. In the mid 1980s, Louise decided that Joe should retire from the heavy work of welding. Although his health was suffering and the work tiring him out, he would not discuss the subject. So Louise put a notice in the local paper that the business would be closing in two weeks. When he read it, he was both angry and happy. He then had more time for his hobbies of golf, hunting and fishing. That was, however, not enough. At the age of 70, Joe went to Ancilla College and enrolled in art classes. He loved creating works of art in watercolor, acrylic, oils, pen and ink and charcoal. His specialties were tastefully done renditions of old barns, historic buildings and countryside scenery. His art was displayed a number of times at the Blueberry Festival and in the Heartland Art Gallery . He was a charter member of the Heartland Artists Club. During his business years, he was active in Boy Scout work, the Chamber of Commerce , Lion’s Club, American Bowhunters Association, the National Ornamental Metal Manufacturers Association and the South Bend Art Center . Joe is survived by Louise, his devoted wife of almost 70 years, and their two children: Susan JoAnn (Loren) Sheetz, Ft. Wayne , Ind. , and Richard P. (Sue) Stinson, Plymouth , Ind. Four grandchildren survive as well. They are: Kimberlee (Jim) Baughman, Leo , Ind. ; Jill (Richard) Lane, Ft. Wayne , Ind. ; Amanda Cook, Warren , Ind. ; and Eric Stinson, Indianapolis , Ind. A great-grandson, Brett Baughman, Leo , Ind. , also survives, together with a brother, Scott (Molly) Stinson, Lake Placid , Fla. , and two sisters, Esther Sisulak, Carbondale , Ill. , and Ella Mary Fredrickson, Des Plaines , Ill. , Several nieces and nephews survive also. There will be no visitation. Family services will be held on Saturday, January 11, 2003. The Rev. Maurice Grindle , pastor of the Trinity United Methodist Church , of which Joe was a long time member, will officiate. Burial will be in Oakhill Cemetery , Plymouth . Memorial gifts to honor the life and talents of Joe Stinson may be made to the Heartland Artists c/o 19336 W 6B Rd. Plymouth, Ind. 46563or the Marshall County Humane Society P.O. Box 22, Plymouth, Ind. 46563.