Randy Joe “Joey” McCabe, age 79, of Burr Oak, Iowa, passed away Friday, December 12, 2025 at home, surrounded by family, following a recent liver cancer diagnosis.
Joey was born October 28, 1946, in Cresco, Iowa, number 10 of 12 children to Eugene and Clara (Casterton) McCabe. He was baptized and confirmed at Saint Agnes Plymouth Rock Church in rural Burr Oak, Iowa. He attended country school, Burr Oak #2, through 7th grade then graduated from Canton High School in Canton, Minnesota, in 1964.
Joey married and later divorced Dawn Wright; to this union five children were born. In 1985 he married Mary F. Lowery.
Joey spent his entire life farming in the Burr Oak area, where he raised a wide variety of animals including dairy cows, beef cattle, hogs, sheep, horses, and miniature donkeys and ponies. His three favorite donkeys still reside on Joey and Mary’s farm today. Over the years while farming he also tended bar at McCabe's Tavern in Burr Oak, drove school bus, and worked at Wisconsin Dairies and then Foremost Dairies. He also worked as head custodian at North Winneshiek and later at St. Benedict's schools. Of all his jobs, one of his favorites was working construction helping to build the Decorah Sewer Plant. He worked hard and learned to do everything from welding, mechanics, electrical, plumbing, construction and so on. He could make or fix most anything.
When Joey retired he kept busy with a small concrete bench business and also traded on eBay where he collected toy tractors. His creativity shone through in many woodworking projects such as rocking horses for each of the grandchildren’s third Christmas, a rocking chair, baby cradle, and wall clocks. He restored his first farming tractor, a Super M Farmall, and built an 8’ x 12’ model farm and railroad display from his collection of farm toys and machinery. He relaxed going for drives in his old cars—a red 1950 Chevy like his first car and a black and yellow 1972 Chevy Rally Nova he restored and nicknamed “the bee” by the grandchildren—motorcycling locally with friends, and sharing two memorable motorcycle vacations with Mary through 14 states and Canada.
Joey is survived by his wife of 40 years, Mary; daughters Brenda Leibold (fiancé Rick Hanson), Heather (Jerry) Frey, Naycia (Mike) Dotzler, Twyla (Wade) Marlow; grandchildren McKenzie (Andres) Acosta, Teesha Frey (fiancé Kevin Webb), Delaynee Frey, Tanner Heins, Hunter Leibold, Brinley Leibold, Jocelyn Marlow, and Nathan Marlow; step children Steven Lundtvedt and Nancy (Lane) Swalve, step grandchildren Elise Swalve and Corinne Swalve; brother Gary (Carol) McCabe; sisters Janice (Leroy) Stone, Culah Pellegrini, Diane (Andrew) Saltis, Linda (Harvey) Swehla, Kathleen (Richard) Ellestad, Teryl Sue (John) Logsdon; brother-in-law Dan Dawley, sister-in-law Marlene McCabe; and many nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his son Tracy (2018); parents Eugene and Clara (Casterton) McCabe; brother Stanley (Sonny) McCabe; sisters Judith Hentges, Rita (Flynn) Branham, and Jill Dawley; son-in-law Jay Heins; five half-siblings Lois Van Netter, Merland McCabe, Pauline McCabe, Howard McCabe, and Thelma Elliot; and brothers-in-law Thomas Hentges, Roy Branham, and Dan Pellegrini; as well as his beloved dogs Max and Sammy.
The family extends heartfelt appreciation to the dedicated staff of WinnMed Home Health & Hospice for the comfort and dignity they provided to Joey and our family during his final months.
Funeral Services will be held at 1 PM on Saturday, December 20, 2025 at the Burr Oak Lutheran Church in Burr Oak, Iowa with the Rev. David Werges officiating. Lunch will follow the service. Visitation will be 3-7 PM Friday, December 19th at the Burr Oak Lutheran Church. There will be no visitation before the service on Saturday. Burial will be in the Burr Oak Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred to your local animal shelter. |
