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Obituary
Joe Dave Niswanger
September 13, 1951 - July 24, 2025
Joe Dave Niswanger passed peacefully from this life into the next on July 24, 2025, surrounded by the people he loved most. His was a life marked by faith, devoted to family, driven by grit with a legendary work ethic, and animated by just enough mischief to keep things interesting. He never met a pun he didn’t like, never took himself too seriously, and never missed a chance to listen more than he spoke. Curious, kind, and always learning, Joe kept growing right up until the very end.
Born on September 13, 1951, in Mesquite, Texas, Joe was the son of Ray and Marilyn Niswanger. In the early years, the family moved to Monroe, Louisiana, to serve the growing truck market along I-20. With that move came a Southern childhood full of livestock, 4-H competitions, and life lessons delivered by true southern gentlemen.
Joe graduated from West Monroe High School in 1969 and headed to Louisiana State University, where he majored in Agricultural Business and joined Alpha Gamma Rho fraternity. He was elected Vice President of the Student Government Association, where he developed a talent for quiet leadership, sharp thinking, and the strategic use of silence; skills that would later become hallmarks of both his business negotiations and parenting style.
After college, Joe returned home to join his father in the family business, Consolidated Truck Parts. He married Delia Holley of Baton Rouge, Louisiana, and the Lord blessed them with three children, Jodee, Fritz, and Rudy. He played tennis at the Monroe Racquet Club and flew ultralights when he wasn’t managing the truck parts business, just because as he liked to say, “it seemed fun at the time”.
In the 1980’s, Joe expanded the family business by launching Many Gear and Axle in Sabine Parish, and later Military Truck Parts, a company that grew into an international supplier of military vehicles and components. Joe traveled the world sealing deals with foreign governments, outlasting seasoned negotiators using his now-famous technique: the silent stare-down. He didn’t blink, didn’t flinch, and always walked away with the win.
When his father passed, Joe returned to helm Consolidated Truck Parts once again – modernizing, expanding, and building it into the robust, diversified business it is today. Whether it was trucks, tools, backhoes, or grandkids, Joe knew how to keep things running. Joe was also honored to serve on the board of directors of Sabine State Bank for 15 plus years.
He took enormous pride in the lives and accomplishments of his children. Whether they were leading, practicing law, building businesses, winning elections, or winning championships at OCS, Tiger Stadium, and Arrowhead, Joe was always watching and smiling when they soared, and quietly encouraging when they stumbled.
In 2006, Joe married the love of his life, Jeannie Frazer, a native of Monroe, Louisiana, who was as strong, wise, and warm as he was. Together they created a country sanctuary called Yellowwood, a stretch of beautiful pastures, dense hardwoods, ponds, horses, cows, trails, geese, backhoes, and stories. Yellowwood wasn’t just a place. It was a home, a legacy, and the stage for a thousand family memories. Joe loved nothing more than trail rides with Jeannie, smoking a cigar while watching the sunset, or digging just because something “looked like it needed digging”.
Joe spent his later years singing in the choir at Grace Episcopal Church, reminding us all that the same man who could wrangle a military convoy could also carry a tune in a choir robe. He and Jeannie split their time between Monroe and Yellowwood, surrounded by children, grandchildren, friends, and three overly-pampered French Bulldogs, Bitsy, Coco, and Joe Dave Jr. (JD), who clearly believed they were in charge.
Joe was preceded in death by his father, Ollie Ray Niswanger; his mother, Marilyn Lindsey Niswanger; and his granddaughter, Abigail Hope Niswanger.
Joe is survived by his beloved wife, Jeannie Frazer Niswanger, and his children; Jodee Bruyninckx (Kyle), Fritz Niswanger (Sarah), Rudy Niswanger (Patricia), Frazer Breckenridge (Dianne), and Douglas Breckenridge; and his sister, Rae Lynn Smith and her children; Carey Smith (Lynette), Terry Smith (Kristin), and Susan Hassan (Alan). He delighted in his 17 grandchildren, whose names deserve to be read like a Southern family roll call: Joe, Mary Rose, Becca, Sam, Addison, Caroline, Walker, Gray, Shepherd, Molly, Emory, Ava Grace, John Carter, Noah, Owen, Dublin, and Colman. All deeply loved. All a little loud, just the way he liked it.
Joe’s legacy is written into the land he loved, the family he raised, the businesses he built, the people he mentored, and the stories we’ll keep telling. We’ll miss his wisdom, his wit, his considerate nature, his love of learning, and his way of making even silence feel like a statement. We’ll carry him forward in our hearts and probably in a few half-finished projects too.
The family extends heartfelt thanks to his care team; Dr. Kyle Bruyninckx, Rhonda, and Brooke of the Bruyninckx Medical Clinic; Dr. Greg Sampognaro and team; Brooke Wall, Jennifer, Jaylynn, Dianna, and the Elara Caring Hospice team; and Dr. Parag Kale at Baylor Heart Hospital in Dallas, Texas.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Grace Episcopal Church.
Visitation for friends and family will be held from 4:00 P.M. until 6:00 P.M., Sunday, July 27, 2025, at Kilpatrick Funeral Home of Monroe. Funeral services will be held at 11:00 A.M., Monday, July 28, 2025, at Grace Episcopal Church in Monroe with Father Don Smith officiating. A private family graveside will be held at Mulhearn Memorial Park cemetery. Services are under the care and direction of Kilpatrick Funeral Home of Monroe, LA.
Online condolence messages may be sent to the family at www.kilpatrickfuneralhomes.com.
Kilpatrick Funeral Home
Monroe, LA
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