Posted on 09/20/2016 4:31:55 AM PDT by iowamark
DAVENPORT, Iowa — State senator and veterinarian Dr. Joseph M. Seng, 69, of Davenport, passed away Friday, Sept. 16, 2016, at his home after a courageous battle with cancer. Services and a Mass of Christian Burial will be 10 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 24, at Sacred Heart Cathedral, 422 E. 10th St., Davenport. Burial will take place in Mount Calvary Cemetery, Davenport. Visitation is 2-8 p.m. Friday at Halligan-McCabe-DeVries Funeral Home, Davenport. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Right to Life, a Humane Society of your choice, or Defeat GBM to find a cure for glioblastoma.
Joseph Matthew Seng Jr. was born Sept. 27, 1946, in Davenport, a son of Joseph Matthew Seng Sr. and Elsie Irene (Ales) Seng. Joe graduated from Lost Nation Community High School. He earned a bachelor of science degree and a doctorate degree in veterinary medicine in 1970 from Iowa State University, where he was a member of Beta Theta Pi fraternity. He was united in marriage to Mary (Ellerman) Kresser on June 16, 2015, at their home in Davenport.
Dr. Seng owned and operated the St. Francis Veterinary Hospital in west Davenport, where he provided care for animals, more times than not taking little to no money or — once — an apple pie for his services. He also owned Renwick Mansion Bed and Breakfast and Joe’s Club.
Dr. Seng was elected in 2014 to his fourth term in the Iowa Senate, and chaired the Agricultural Committee. He is the only veterinarian ever to serve in the Senate and was known to share his musical talents on the Senate floor by playing his accordion during closing sessions. Even after his diagnosis with glioblastoma, Joe continued to fulfill his senatorial duties.
Joe received national recognition from the American Humane Society for his efforts to prevent animal cruelty. He also has been honored by many Iowa organizations, including the Iowa Veterinary Medical Association, and was named Legislator of the Year by the Izaak Walton League. Joe also served as president for the Iowa Veterinary Medical Association and president of the Iowa Health Council.
Prior to serving in the Senate, he served one term in the Iowa House of Representatives and had previously held office as mayor pro tem and alderman at-large for the City of Davenport.
Joe was active in the community as a member of the Knights of Columbus 532, Midwest National Rail Compact and NAACP, and was the driving force behind Marquette Academy in West Davenport. He was the grand marshal of the St. Patrick’s Day Parade in 2015, a parade he walked every year, playing his accordion for the crowds.
Dr. Seng is survived by his loving wife, Mary, of Davenport; daughter and son-in-law, Heidi and Pat Dooley, of Bettendorf; grandsons, Gavin and Finn; a sister, Jolene Daley, of St. Louis; Mary’s daughters, Amanda Kosarek and Angela Schriver, both of Bettendorf; a nephew, Jeffrey (Kathy) Daley; a niece, Jennifer Daley; a great-niece, Simone Daley; and several cousins.
He was preceded in death by his parents. May they rest in peace.
Online remembrances and condolences may be expressed by visiting Dr. Seng’s obituary at www.hmdfuneralhome.com.
He was a veterinarian, locally famous for caring for the pet animals of people who could not afford to pay.
How sad. It seems like he was an outstanding person.
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