Joseph Thomas Labesky

Joseph Thomas Labesky, 95, of Aberdeen passed away Wednesday, November 30, 2016, at ManorCare Health Services in Aberdeen.

Private family services, with military rites, will be held at a later date.   Burial will take place at Sunset Memorial Gardens in Aberdeen.

Memorials are preferred to the South Dakota School for the Blind and Visually Impaired, 423 17th Avenue SE, Aberdeen, SD  57401.

Joseph Thomas Labesky was born on March 22, 1921, to Frank and Christina (Atanasu) Labesky in Aberdeen, SD.  He attended St. Mary’s Parochial School and graduated from Aberdeen Central High School in 1939.  Joe was with the Civilian Conservation Corps for two years in the Black Hills before entering the United States Army Air Force in 1942.

Joe was united in marriage to Leota M. Hormann on January 18, 1943, in Boise, Idaho.  The couple shared 71 years of marriage before she passed away on April 15, 2014.

While serving overseas during WWII, Joe received the Distinguished Flying Cross, The Purple Heart and the Air Medal with three Oak Leaf Clusters.  He was honorably discharged in 1945 and returned to Aberdeen.  Joe then returned to work with the Milwaukee Railroad, where he remained employed until 1981, when he retired.

Joe was a member of the VFW, Brotherhood Railway Carman of America and AARP.

Joe is survived by two children, Gloria Henderson of Aurora, Co Thomas Labesky of Aberdeen; five grandchildren; seven great-grandchildren; five great great-grandchildren; and one sister, Marjorie Telfer of Apalachin, NY.

He is preceded in death by his wife, his parents, two brothers and three sisters.