Srgnt joesph a. Richardson
Sgt. Joseph Richardson Scholarship Fund
Iowa State Bank
5 East Call Street
Algona, Iowa 50511
Joseph Alvin Richardson was born September 10,1989
in Algona, Iowa. The son of Greg and Ginette (Fouarge)
Richardson. He grew up in Algona
where he attended Seton Elementary School
through sixth grade and then transferred to Algona
Public Schools where he continued through the
ninth grade. His family then moved to Arkansas where he finished his schooling,
graduating from the Booneville High School in May of 2008.
While
attending school in Booneville, Joe was involved in drama, golf, cross country
and was a member of the Future Farmers of America. He was also nominated and
participated in the Booneville High School Mr. and Miss Pageant his junior year.
He worked at the local KFC for two years and a short time at Sonic before
leaving to join the United States Army in June of 2008.
Upon finishing his
basic training, Joe was stationed with the 1st Infantry Division at Fort Reilly,
Kansas. Joe and his unit, 1st Battalion 28th Infantry Regiment, 4th Brigade
Combat Team were deployed to Iraq for a tour of duty from September 2009 to July
of 2010. On November 5, 2010, Joseph was united in marriage to Ashley Harris in
Booneville, Arkansas. After their marriage they resided in Kansas. Joe loved
his job in the Army and fighting for his country and our freedom and had
recently re-enlisted to serve another six years.
Sergeant Joseph A.
Richardson died Friday, November 16, 2012, in Paktika Province, Afghanistan when
rebels attacked his unit. He was 23.
His military honors include the
posthumous awarding of the Bronze Star Medal and Purple Heart; the Army
Commendation Medal; Army Good Conduct Medal; National Defense Service Medal;
Afghanistan Campaign Medal (with Campaign Star); Iraq Campaign Medal (with
Campaign Star); Global War on Terrorism Service Medal; Army Service Ribbon;
Overseas Service Ribbon; NATO Ribbon (posthumous); and the Combat Infantry
Badge.
Left to cherish his memory are his wife, Ashley M.
Richardson of Manhattan, Kan.; his mother, Ginette A. Richardson of Dakota City;
his father and stepmother, Greg A. and Teresa J. Richardson of Gilmore City;
sisters Cassie M. Richardson of Beebe, Ark., and Abby E. Richardson of Dakota
City; brother, Nick Eden of Wesley; stepsisters Laura K. Mitricska of Apple
Valley, Minn., and Megan J. Christianson of Trempealeau, Wis.; stepbrother, Ryan
J. Edwards of Eagle Grove; nephew, Dexter K. Lowery of Beebe, Ark.; father- and
mother-in-law, John and Tammy Quinalty; brothers-in-law, Michael and Aaron
Quinalty; grandmothers, Agnes Fouarge of Dakota
City, Iowa
and Sandy Voss and Phil Specht
of Algona;
uncles, Danny Fouarge of Algona,
and Tony Fouarge, John Fouarge, Robert Fouarge, Todd Richardson, and Gary
Richardson; aunt, Michelle Fouarge.
He was preceded in death by
his grandfathers, Alvin Richardson, Jr, and Joseph Fouarge; great-grandparents,
Alvin Richardson, Sr., Iona Richardson, William and Vivian Beck; great-aunts,
Vinetta "Kay" Lonning, Shirley Greene, Monica Behnkendorf, Martha Ristau;
cousins, Denny Behnkendorf, Daryl Ristau, Shannon Collins and Candy Greene
Hadar.