Joseph William Kemmerick, 98, of Austin, Minnesota, died peacefully surrounded by family on Saturday, March 24, at St. Mark’s in Austin.

Joe was born April 1, 1919, in Leonore, Illinois, to Frank and Elizabeth (Fluech) Kemmerick. The family moved to Williams, Iowa, when Joe was a baby and to a farm near Stacyville, Iowa, at age 7, where he attended Visitation Catholic School.

He served in the U.S. Army during World War II from May 1942 until being honorably discharged in November 1945. He served in the Pacific and was an “Avenger of Bataan.”

He was united in marriage on Oct. 30, 1946, at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Meyer, Iowa, to Dorothy Marie Wolf. Together they raised seven children on a farm south of Austin. While farming, he worked for 36 years at Hormel, retiring in 1981. After living on the farm 46 years, they moved to Austin in 1996.

Joe loved farming, gardening, and watching things grow. He would spend hours at the fair looking at big farm equipment. He could fix anything and was full of ingenuity. He really liked his new cars. He enjoyed playing games, especially cards, grilling steaks and, above all, spending time with family. He was a devoted husband, father and a good neighbor and was known for his sense of humor.

He is survived by his wife of 71 years, Dorothy; seven children, Norma Holmes, Exton, Pennsylvnia, Ryan (Patricia), Rochester, Minnesota, Randy (Judy), Seymour, Missouri, Mark (Joan), Austin, Sheila (Tom) Brownlow, Rochester, and Brenda Kemmerick, Minneapolis, Minnesota, and Susan (William) Horner, Spring, Texas; nine grandchildren and 12 great-grandchildren, Christopher (Amy) Holmes, and Tyler, Zachary, and Andrew, Jennifer Holmes and Rome, Sarah Holmes, Kate (Michael) Poterucha and Emily, Sarah (Michael) Boyd, Adam (Breanna) Kemmerick and Mason, Finley and Brody, Sean (Jenni) Brownlow and Cole, Elayna, and Avery, Michael (Abbie) Brownlow and Ellie, and Kristen Brownlow; and sisters, Pauline, Florence, Dorothy and Lucille.

He was preceded in death by his parents; sisters, Marcella and Leona; brother, Bernard; infant brother and sister; and granddaughter, Ann.

A funeral Mass will be celebrated at 2:30 p.m. on Wednesday, March 28, 2018, at St. Augustine Catholic Church with Father James Steffes officiating. There will be a 7:45 p.m. prayer service on Tuesday at Mayer Funeral Home, where friends may call from 5-8 p.m. There will also be visitation one hour before the service at the church on Wednesday. Interment will be in Calvary Cemetery with military rites by American Legion Post 91 and VFW Post 1216. Memorials may be donated to St. Augustine Church Restoration Project. Condolences may be left online at www.mayerfh.com.