Joseph Hiram Danklef, born September 5, 1934, succumbed to multiple organ failure at his Concord Village home on July 29, 2016, at the age of nearly 82. His wife of 41 years, Pamela Phillips Danklef was with him.
His children, step-children, grandchildren, great grandchild and multitudes of friends will mourn his passing. His sons, with former wife, Marlene Foerster Reilly, are Dirk Danklef (Ellen) of Mt. Pleasant, SC; Tim Danklef (Julia) of Dallas, Tx and Mitch Danklef (Joan) of Sugarland, Tx. His step children are Mike Hull (Teri) of Vernon Hills, Il and Kim Morissette (Marcus) of North Bend WA.
His grandchildren are Sara (Bryon) Stephens; Chad, Madalene, Amelia, Jack and Sean Danklef; Kelly and Kyle Hull; Matthew, Miller, Makayla Morissette, and great grandson,Trey Stephens.
A former Platoon Leader, and Commanding Officer of a Tank Company in the United States Marine Corps, Joe was always a proud Marine. He served his country with honor as he did the City of St. Louis. Joe was named St. Louis Ambassador Volunteer of the Year, twice. He was the past chairman of Step Up St. Louis and a graduate of Leadership St. Louis. He was a past chairman of The New Theatre; past board member of the Small Business Coalition. He was a founding member of the Employment Management Association of St. Louis.
A kind and caring consummate professional, Danklef, began his career in human resources at McDonnell-Douglas in Professional Recruiting. He spent 17 years with Grant Cooper & Associates as Vice president of Executive Search, two years as Corporate Manager of Professional Recruiting with Sverdrup Corporation, was a senior vice-president of Drake Beam Morin, Inc, and then with Human Resource Management Corporation.
Joe was an active member of Human Resources Management Association, serving on the Executive Committee as president for 1999-2000. He was Secretary/Treasurer of the MO SHRM Council and past co-chairman of the SHRM Convention, St. Louis.
A graduate of Southwest High School, St. Louis, Joe received his B.S. Degree in Education from SMSU, Springfield, MO majoring in sociology, economics and physical education.
He was a man of boundless energy, wit and charm with a sincere and endless smile. It has been said of Joe Danklef that had he been paid for every job he found for someone, he would have been a very rich man.
Joe often joked that he wanted a bar set up on his coffin when he left this life with a sign saying, “Have a Drink On Me.” It was, however, his wish to be cremated wearing his Marine Corps hat.
A voracious reader, Joe enjoyed giving away the books as soon as he finished them.
As it was, Papa Joe was rich in friends and the love and respect of his children and grandchildren and multitudes of young men that he coached in his work with his sons’ South County Little League football teams. He never failed to attend any event where any of his sons, Dirk, Tim, or Mitch or Kim Hull Morissette or Mike Hull were participants.
Mike Hull is to be credited with introducing his Mother, Pam Phillips to Joe (on Joe’s request) many years ago. Following their marriage Pam and Joe made their home in south county. For many years they kept a getaway home at Lake Tishomingo, Hillsboro, MO.
Joe’s personal magnetism and personal style was legendary. “Joe had an amazing ability to get everyone to work together and solve management problems as a team,” said his former Grant Copper & Associates colleague, Pat Doyle. “He united company and clients through his own interpersonal skills.”
His parents were the late Bernard Danklef and Ina Lipe Danklef. When his mother died shortly after Joe’s birth, he was lovingly raised by his father’s twin sister, the late Beulah Danklef Croessman.
Waiting to meet him at the Rainbow Bridge were his beloved little dogs Smudge, Tiffany, Lollipop, Peanut, Popcorn, and Persnickety. Yoli, his last “little girl,” comforted her master in his final hours. In honor of his beloved pets, donations to Stray Rescue or the Open Door Sanctuary would be welcomed.
Rest in Peace Devil Dog!