Joseph E Gresser, Sr.

Joseph Gresser Sr., 83, passed away April 26th at Kathy Hospice in West Bend, WI. He was born in Minnesota to the late Christian and Carolyn.  Joe was united in marriage to Mary Ann Maloney in 1955.  Mary Ann preceded him in death in 1962.  On July 24, 1965 Joe was united in marriage to Carol A. Scholz at Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church in Milwaukee.  Carol preceded him in death in 2011.

Joe learned at a young age that one had to work hard to get ahead in this world. At age 12 Joe was delivering newspapers and in high school was working at a Tannery as well as other odd jobs.  In 1954 Joe started working at Ladish in Cudahy working until 1975, afterwards working at Allis-Chalmers.  In 1975, Joe and Carol moved to Allenton to raise their young family.  At age 48, Joe lost his job and had to come up with a new career.  Soon thereafter he would partner with his good friend, Dick, purchasing a machine shop.  Joe would often say that having a partner was like having another wife because they spent a lot of hours working together.  In 1988, Joe was featured in Fortune Magazine.  The story featured rust belt workers having to make their own employment, rather than waiting for corporate America to do it for them.  Joe went on to sell his share of the business to his son in 1996, and he continued to work part time at the shop until December 2017.

Joe’s hobbies included bowling, traveling, hunting on his land he shared with his sons, fishing on Lake Erie with friends, and working on the cottage he built with Carol.  A place on the lake!!

Joe is survived by his 6 children, Joseph Jr (Karen), Karen (Bill), Renee (Bill), Christopher (dearest friend Susan), Kenneth (Tamara) and Edward, 17 grandchildren and 4 great grandchildren.  He is further survived by brother Leroy (Barbara), sisters Renee (Daniel), Judy, Kathy, Joan (Emmett), sister-in-law Joyce, many good friends, extended family, and his pup Dixie.

In addition to his wives and parents, he was preceded in death by his brother Andy, sister-in-law Barbara, brother-in-law’s Jerry, Charlie, and Jack.

A celebration of Joe’s life will be held on Friday, May 11th, 2018 with a memorial Mass at 11:30 A.M. at Resurrection Catholic church at 215 N Main St in Allenton.  The Rev. Richard Stoffel will preside.  Visitation will be at the church on Friday from 9:30 A.M. until the time of Mass.  Private burial will be held at a later date.

Memorials to a charity of your choice or Kathy Hospice in Joe’s memory are appreciated by the family.  A special thank you to Hope nursing home in Lomira, and Kathy Hospice in West Bend for all the compassionate care they gave to our father.

Myrhum-Patten Funeral & Cremation Service of West Bend is serving the family.  Online guest book and condolences are available at www.myrhum-patten.com.                  

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