[Tall-Corn] Sad news from the National Federation of the Blind of Iowa

[Emily Wharton]

Joe’s commitment to, and hard work on behalf of, the Iowa Department for the Blind and Business Enterprise Programs are too large to capture properly in words. Not only did he dedicate his time and talents to serving many years on the Iowa Commission for the Blind and Elected Committee of Blind Vendors, but I saw his advocacy at   the Capitol save our appropriation more than once. He never forgot what Kenneth Jernigan taught him and he gave back what he had been given one hundred fold to improve the lives of blind Iowans who would come after him. He was a farm boy who was not afraid of hard work . He worked hard at his business and he worked hard by going  to the capitol and talk to everyone and make sure that they knew how important IDB services were. He was an inspiration to me and so many other blind Iowans and he will deeply missed. I hope that all of us who knew him and those who have benefited from his work will continue that work with the same passion and sense of urgency that he demonstrated for so many years.

From: Tall-Corn <tall-corn-bounces at nfbnet.org> on behalf of Dr. Bitrus Gwamna via Tall-Corn <tall-corn at nfbnet.org>
Date: Thursday, January 26, 2023 at 8:27 PM
To: 'NFB of Iowa Internet Mailing List' <tall-corn at nfbnet.org>
Cc: Dr. Bitrus Gwamna <bgwamna at gmail.com>
Subject: Re: [Tall-Corn] Sad news from the National Federation of the Blind of Iowa
I am so sorry to read this.  Joe was a truly amiable person, always willing to lend his  knowledge of blindness issues, the federation and the IDB  to those of us   less informed than he.  May the memories
He has left behind comfort them, and may his soul rest in peace.
Bitrus
From: Tall-Corn <tall-corn-bounces at nfbnet.org> On Behalf Of Scott Van Gorp via Tall-Corn
Sent: Thursday, January 26, 2023 7:53 PM
To: NFBI Listserv <tall-corn at nfbnet.org>
Cc: Scott Van Gorp <svangorp at nfbi.org>
Subject: [Tall-Corn] Sad news from the National Federation of the Blind of Iowa

Good Evening Federation Family:
It is with great sorrow that I write to you this evening to announce that Joe Van Lent, a long-time Federationist, BEP/Randolph Shepherd vendor, and former Iowa Commission for the Blind board member, passed away on Wednesday evening, January 25th. Services will be held in Des Moines on April 15, 2023, and we will share full details for those later. For now, let’s keep his wife Laura, and the rest of his family in our thoughts and prayers. Blind people are undoubtedly in a much better place in Iowa because of Joe’s work and we are forever grateful.

Scott Van Gorp, President
National Federation of the Blind of Iowa
Phone: 515-720-5282
Email<mailto:svangorp at nfbi.org>
Website<http://www.nfbi.org/>
Facebook<https://www.facebook.com/National-Federation-Of-the-Blind-Of-Iowa-372681823082570/posts>
Twitter<https://twitter.com/nfb_iowa>
Live the life you want.

The National Federation of the Blind of Iowa is a community of members and friends who believe in the hopes and dreams of the nation’s blind. Every day we work together to help blind people live the lives they want.

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