Obit: Kremsreiter, Joseph Anthony (1934 - 2013)

Contact: Robert Lipprandt
bob@wiclarkcountyhistory.org 

Surnames: Gaulke, Henrickson, Kremsreiter, Laher, Lamont, Schemenauer, Smola

----Source: The Star News (Medford, WI) 04/18/2013

Kremsreiter, Joseph Anthony (9 JAN 1934 - 7 APR 2013)

Joseph Anthony Kremsreiter, 79, of Abbotsford, died in his home on Sunday, April 7, lovingly surrounded by his family.

Joe was born on January 9, 1934 in Athens to John and Rose (Schemenauer) Kremsreiter. He attended Silver Leaf and St. Anthony's grade schools in Athens, and graduated in 1952 from Athens High School.

Joe married Betty Lamont on August 25, 1954 in Abbotsford. He was drafted into the United States Army, serving from April 1956 to February 1958. Later in 1958, Joe and Betty purchased the 13 & 29 Club in Abbotsford, which they operated for 21 years. He started Joe's Sport Shop where he sold and repaired all types of sporting, camping, boating and hunting equipment.

During this same time, he worked several jobs in the area including driving truck for several local businesses and driving school bus for the Abbotsford School District. In 1972, he became a mail carrier for the United States Postal Service, retiring after 27 years. After retirement, he became bored and started driving truck for Meig's Trucking and performed maintenance at the Abby Bank until ill health forced him to retire again.

From an early age, music was a very important part of Joe's life. Joe played accordion with various polka bands, starting as a freshman in high school with the Jolly Gents, and was later known as one of the "Accordion Kids" for the Roger Allen Orchestra.

He loved hunting, both small and big game, and the outdoors. For many years he was very involved in the Abbotsford Sportsman Club, the Wisconsin Conservation Congress and was an instructor for boater, snowmobile and hunter safety courses. He enjoyed many seasons hunting elk out west with family and good friends. Because of his passion for hunting, he co-founded the Wausau chapter of the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation, later known as the Big Bull Falls chapter.

Joe was a hardworking man, a man of many talents. He was always willing to share his knowledge or lend a hand when needed. He was a great man, a hero to some, a friend to many and a wonderful example for those who loved him.

Those left to cherish his memory are his wife of 58 years, Betty, and his six children and their spouses, Randy (Sandy) Kremsreiter, Jody (Rodney) Laher, Connie (Todd) Smola, Jane (Glenn) Gaulke, Bob (Rachael) Kremsreiter and Kris (Steve) Henrickson.

His 18 grandchildren are Seth Bolz, Cody Thomsen, Randee and Sunnee Kremsreiter, Robin (Ryan) Kraschnewski, Jeffrey (Kayla) Laher, Vanessa Kremsreiter, John Smola, Olivia (Chris) Dums, Erin (Justin) Leonard, Elliott and Eden Gaulke, Zoe and Ezra Kremsreiter, and Max, Regan, Cooper and Fletcher Henrickson.

His eight great-grandchildren are Ryder, Rylan and Restyn Kraschnewski, Knox Laher, Gannon Fuchs, Owen and Stella Leonard and Hank Dums.

He was preceded in death by his parents, John and Rose Kremsreiter.

Memorial services will be held at 11 a.m. on Saturday, April 20 at St. Bernard's Catholic Church in Abbotsford. Visitation will begin at 9 a.m. at the church. Burial will be held at a later date at St. Johns Cemetery in Wuertzburg.

The Maurina Schilling Funeral Home of Abbotsford assisted the family with arrangements.