Joe Sampson, 91, Owatonna
Joe Sampson passed away on May 21, 2026, surrounded by family. Joe is reunited in heaven with his parents, siblings, and his wife, Eileen.
Joseph Albert Sampson was born to Oscar and Eleanor Sampson at their farmhouse near Waseca on May 25, 1934. Joe attended North Waseca Lutheran Church and was baptized and confirmed there. He graduated from Waseca Central High School in 1951.
Joe worked on the family farm with his father and would sheer sheep on the side. On the farm, he drove teams of horses with implements and wagons and a sleigh. In 1948, Joe won Grand Champion at the 4-H Jr. Livestock Show for his steer, Chubbie. He sold Chubbie and bought his first tractor at the ripe age of 14. Joe was known for his love of cars and driving fast. He liked to race around Clear Lake. His favorite car was his 1949 Chrysler.
Because Joe was only 19, he and Eileen drove to Wisconsin in the middle of the night to elope. They were married on February 5, 1954. They made their home together in Owatonna. Joe and Eileen had two sons, Brian Anthony in 1960 and Daniel Roy in 1963.
Joe served in the U.S. Army Reserve from September 1957 to December 1961. In 1955, he purchased the Butter Capitol Dairy of Owatonna and founded Sampson Dairy. Joe ran the business for 60 years. Sampson Dairy delivered dairy products and other foods to thousands of customers in over 100 towns and cities in Minnesota. Joe was very hard working and dedicated to his employees and their success. The company also made many donations of food and equipment to food banks, charities, schools and churches.
During 71 years of marriage, Eileen and Joe made many wonderful memories. Family trips were taken to Canada, California, Hawaii, Alaska and Northern Minnesota. He was always up for an adventure! Joe would bring multiple coolers of food and was assigned “head chef” on many of these expeditions.
Joe and Eileen joined Trinity Lutheran Church in 1954. Eileen and Joe also sponsored an exchange student from Sweden, Anders Liss. Joe served several years on the Board of Directors of the Owatonna Hospital. Joe and Eileen joined Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in 2012.
Joe was blessed with a special daughter-in-law, Jodi (Malloy) Sampson, the mother of his three grandchildren: Sydney, Samuel and Lily. Joe loved going to their activities, choir concerts, soccer and hockey games.
Joe is survived by his sons, Brian and Daniel; his daughter-in-law, Jodi; his grandchildren Sydney, Sam and Lily; his sister-in-law, Joanne Waddington; his brother-in-law, Paul Arnfelt; his sister-in-law, Iona Arnfelt; and many beloved nieces and nephews.
Joe was preceded in death by his wife Eileen, his brother Clarence Sampson and his wife Norma, his sister Marianne Malecha and her husband Gus, his brother-in-law Robert Arnfelt and his wife Joyce, his brother-in-law Tony Arnfelt and his son Jeff, his brother-in-law Rick Arnfelt and his wife Mary Jane, his sister-in-law Gail Arnfelt and her son Patrick, and his parents Oscar and Eleanor Sampson.
Visitation will be Wednesday, May 27, 2026, from 5–7 p.m. at Brick-Meger Funeral Home, 1603 Austin Road, Owatonna, and continue Thursday, May 28, 2026, beginning at 10 a.m. at Good Shepherd Church, 2500 7th Ave. NE, Owatonna. Funeral service will follow at 11 a.m. at Good Shepherd. Burial will be at Forest Hill Cemetery with Military Honors provided by the Steele County Funeral Unit.
In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred to Good Shepherd Church.
For more information or to leave an online message of condolence, go to www.megercares.com