Obit: Beaver, Joseph A. (1923 - 2006)

Contact: History Buffs

Surnames: Beaver, Flagherty, Knudtson, Schoettle, Owen, Zagar, Fricke, Brown, Klimek, Moser, Gaier, Degenhardt

----Sources: Leader-Telegram (Eau Claire, Eau Claire County, Wis.) 07/05/2006

Beaver, Joseph A. (4 June 1923 - 29 June 2006)

Joseph "Joe" A. Beaver, age 83, went home to be with the Lord on June 29, 2006 after a brief illness. He was able to have his wish fulfilled to pass away at home, surrounded by his loving family, with the help of Hospice.

Joe was born on June 4, 1923, to Frank and Kathryn (Flagherty) Beaver in Loyal, Wisconsin.

Joe worked at Presto and Pope & Talbot in Eau Claire. He was a Union Steward at Pope & Talbot. He also did construction work. Joe served his country in the U.S. Army during World War II as a prison guard for war criminals. He was a member of VFW Post 305.

Joe will be remembered for his sense of humor; he loved hearing and telling jokes and sharing stories. He loved gardening and often shared his produce with family, friends and neighbors. His many backyard friends, birds and squirrels, could always count on him for their daily supply of food and water. He always cherished the times spent deer hunting up at his brother Art’s cabin with his brothers, sons, nephews and grandsons.

In his younger years Joe enjoyed camping, fishing, and picking berries, wild flowers and wild leeks. Joe loved his family, neighbors and the American Flag and what it stood for. He was an avid fan of the Green Bay Packers.

He was a loving and faithful husband, wonderful Dad and Grandpa and a thoughtful man to all who knew him. He faithfully attended St. Olaf’s Church for over 50 years.

We would like to give a special thank you to St. Joseph’s Hospice Care Center, especially Mary Lee and Shelly. We want to thank everyone for their prayers and comfort during his illness. He will be sadly missed by all who knew him, but he left us all with great, fond memories.

Joe is survived by two sons, Joe (Mary) and Steve (Diane); two daughters, Dawn (Mike) Moser and Sandy (Tom) Gaier; 12 grandchildren, Nate, Kala (fiance Brian), Troy, Matt, Melissa (Dan), Angela, Jeremy (Angie), Jennifer (fiance Chuck), Sam, Jesrin, Caleb and Luke; a great-grandson, Treyton; sisters, Lorraine Degenhardt, Marcy (Bob) Schoettle, Alice Owen, Donna Mae Zagar; a sister-in-law, Phyllis Knudtson; a special sister-in-law, Dorothy Beaver, many nieces, nephews and friends.

Joe was preceded in death by his parents; his wife, Elinor; his son, Bob; his siblings, Evelyn Fricke, Art Beaver and Gilbert Beaver; sister-in-laws, Elaine Beaver and Florence Knudtson; brother-in-laws, Alfred Degenhardt, Oscar Fricke, Jim Owen, Johnny Zagar, Romaine Knudtson and Laverne Knudtson; and one niece, Maureen Brown.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11 a.m. Thursday, July 6, 2006, at St. Olaf Catholic Church with Monsignor Edmund Klimek officiating. Entombment will be in Chapel of the Resurrection Mausoleum with Military Honors by V.F.W. Post 305. Friends may call on Wednesday evening from 4 to 8 p.m. at Fuller-Speckien-Hulke Funeral Home and at the church on Thursday one hour prior to the service.

Fuller-Speckien-Hulke Funeral Home is assisting the family with arrangements.