Joseph James Fiala was born near Bruno, Nebraska on August 22, 1924, the son of Joseph Frank and Mary (Novak) Fiala and passed away at St. Joseph's Villa in David City, Nebraska, on February 16, 2017, at the age of 92 years, 5 months, 25 days.

Joe was a 1942 graduate of Ulysses High School and then farmed all his life and also raised purebred Angus cattle. He was united in marriage to Lucille Natalie Hotovy on January 13, 1948 at St. Wenceslaus Catholic Church in Bee. Their marriage was blessed with eight children: Carmelita, Suzanne, Gregory, Theresa, Barbara, Mary Beth, Robert and Corinne. Joe was a devoted husband, father and grandfather. He was a member of Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Ulysses all of his life where he was a trustee and served as one of the first acolytes. Joe was also a member of the Catholic Workman #184 and served as its financial secretary for many years. He was secretary of the Ulysses Farmers Coop and a member of the Ulysses Fire Department. Joe enjoyed farming, witnessing its progress from horse-drawn plows to GPS driven combines. He loved to travel with Lucille and family, near and far. His favorite visits were to Alaska, Switzerland, Austria and Czechoslovakia, as well as seeing every site to be visited in Nebraska. He loved to read, to discuss archaeology, to watch his grandchildren's sports and other events, to dance with Lucille. Other interests were woodworking, camping, fishing and spending time with family and friends.

Joe is preceded in death by his wife, Lucille; his parents; parents-in-law, Mike and Agnes Hotovy; granddaughter, Natalie Greene and brother, Raymond Fiala.

Survivors cherishing Joe's memory include his eight children (spouses): Carmelita Fiala, David City,  Suzanne (Larry) Kratochvil, Ulysses, and children: Angela (Jeremy) Coufal and children: Michael, Isabel, Isaiah, Sarah, and Daniel, Taresa, Sr. Mary Markita, Melissa, and Matthew (Melissa) and children Kobee, Tanner, and Dakota;  Gregory (Peggy) Fiala, David City and children: Meghan (Nathan) Jantzi and children Gianna and Callen, Justin, and Kristine (Travis) Polacek; Theresa (Darell) Aerts, David City, and children: Anthony (Jesse), Andrea, Vincent, Cassandra, Mariah, Jarod, Amanda and Lanae: Barbara (Chip) Greene, Omaha, and children: Abigail, Earl IV, Isaac and Tobias;   Mary Beth (Pat) Roh, Abie, and children: Mitchell, Nathan, Rebekah, Joshua, Travis and Elizabeth;   Robert (Janette) Fiala, Ulysses, and children: Antonia, Olivia, Sinclare, Mary, and Xavier; Corinne (Lee) Schmit, Pleasant Dale, and children: Emily, Anna, Jakob, Katherine and Paige; sister-in-law, Marie Hotovy; nieces, nephews and a host of friends. To this obituary we add our thoughts, prayers and memories of life shared with Joe.