Joseph W. “Curly” Dilley, 91, of La Porte City, died Saturday, March 1, at Sartori Memorial Hospital, Cedar Falls.

He was born Aug. 13, 1922, in Cumberland, Wis., son of Frank and Olga Wolfgram Dilley. He married Mary E. “Mick” O’Neill on Aug. 15, 1942, in Lancaster, Mo.; she died March 13, 2011.

Curly worked for various farmers through the years until going to work as a heavy equipment operator for Black Hawk County for 22 years, retiring in 1989. Following retirement, he worked for eight years as a greeter at Wal-Mart. He was a member of the American Lutheran Church, La Porte City.

Survived by: a son, Richard W. (Connie) of Solon; four grandchildren, Michael (Rebecca) Combs, Patrick Combs, Gabrielle Combs and Christiana Combs, all of Virginia; several great-grandchildren; a brother, Ervin of Dover, Del.; and four sisters, Irene Gosney of Evansdale, Mardelle Vallarian of Gulfport, Miss., Esther Brown of Tacoma, Wash., and Leola Kramer of Waterloo.

Preceded in death by: his parents; a son, John Combs; a grandson, Jeffrey Dilley; five brothers, John, Francis, Lawrence, Albert and Junior; and a sister, Esther.

Services: 10 a.m. Thursday at American Lutheran Church, with burial in West View Cemetery, both in La Porte City. Visitation from 4 to 7 p.m. Wednesday at La Porte City Funeral Home, and an hour before services on Thursday at the church.

Curly was twice nominated Wal-Mart greeter of the year. He loved talking to people and telling stories of all kind.