David Joseph

David Arthur Joseph, age 68, of Circleville, Ohio passed away at his home on September 1, 2025 following a courageous battle with cancer.

Dave was born on May 29, 1957 to Clarence Frederic (Fred) Joseph and Helen Cryder Joseph. He grew up on a family farm in Knox County outside of Utica, Ohio with seven brothers and sisters. Dave graduated from Utica High School and then the Ohio State University with a Bachelor of Science in Agriculture. While there he was a part of the OSU Intercollegiate Livestock Judging Team. Unbeknownst to his future wife, Rachel Ann Fenstermaker, he was saving a seat for her in nutrition class for an entire quarter. This was followed by a friendship that developed after hours together in the Ag Library and they started dating after a group trip to NAILE in Louisville (where their grandchildren now show sheep). They were married 16 months later, on March 17, 1979 at the Williamsport United Methodist Church.

Dave worked with hogs as the swine herdsman at A.T.I. at Wooster, then for Funderburg Yorkshires, Birchwood Genetics, and as the manager of Cardinal Pork. Following that he worked as a carpenter at Valley Interior Systems, as the Jackson Township Cemetery Sextant, as a township mower, and as a substitute teacher.

Dave was a devoted supporter of his children and grandchildren, especially in their sporting endeavors, and could often be heard cheering them on from the sidelines. He started running when his children joined their school track/cross country teams which led to an annual family Turkey Trot and then to multiple marathons. Dave enjoyed caring for pigs, sheep, and chickens and cherished the friendships made in the livestock community. He instilled a love of fairs and livestock shows in his grandchildren who will proudly continue this tradition. Dave also valued time with family for travel, and many memories were made on these trips. This started with an epic road trip to Yellowstone with his parents and seven siblings. This was followed by many adventures with Rae and his children and then when they became empty nesters with his sister and brother-law (Becky and Doug Hartman). Trips included camping in the National Parks, visiting the Canadian Rockies and Iceland, and his cherished annual family trip to the Outer Banks. Dave was adored by his grandchildren who attended “Grampy’s Preschool” where he taught egg math, animal care, doing the Wordle, and tractor driving, and read them thousands of books. His children and grandchildren benefited from his gift of storytelling, his witty sense of humor and inventive play routines. There was rarely a child he couldn’t cheer. His smiles and hugs and the loving kindness he generously shared will be greatly missed by all who knew him.

Dave was preceded in death by his parents, his mother- and father-in-law Paul and Irma Fenstermaker, his brother Steve Joseph, and his nephew Christpher Hartman. He is survived by: his wife Rachel (Rae); children Kate (Eric Olsavsky), Lisa (Mike O’Neill), and Kyle (Sara) Joseph; grandchildren Emmett, Eli, and Adelyn Olsavsky, Kaylee, Abbey, and Nora O’Neill, and Kade, Landry, Miles, and Nash Joseph; siblings Bob (Linda) Joseph, Sally (Tom) Meeks, Becky (Doug) Hartman, Linda Hoffman-Joseph, Laura (Jim) Mather, Dan (Tammy) Joseph, Tim (LeeAnn) Joseph; brothers- and sisters-in law Rick (Nancy) Fenstermaker), Nancy (Bill Heskett), and Becky Messer; uncle John Cryder; and numerous nieces and nephews.

A Celebration of Life will be held on September 28th at 2:00pm at the Williamsport United Methodist Church, followed by dessert and fellowship at the Williamsport Community Square Park. The family will receive friends an hour prior to the service and during the time of fellowship. They would like to express their sincere gratitude for the outpouring of love and support during this difficult time.

Donations may be made in Dave’s memory to: The Joseph Family Scholarship (through OSU); the Westfall Boys Basketball program, or the Dr. Paul Fenstermaker Service Scholarship (through the Westfall Education Foundation).