Joseph "Joe" S. Fischbach

To those of you who know me and those who have only gotten to know me recently, I'd like to tell you a little about myself and my family. Kathy used to do most of the talking, so you will have to bear with me.

My name is Joe Fischbach and I was born on May 27, 1936, in Aberdeen to Bernard "Ben" and Blanche (Druley) Fischbach. I was the youngest of five children. I grew up in the Mellette area and graduated in a class of five students from Brentford in 1954.

I saw a little gal with a huge smile at the A&W drive-in and I had to keep going back for hamburgers that I really didn't like until she went out with me in an old beat up Ford - her name was Kathy and she grew up in Wetonka. After chasing her for a couple of years, I married Kathy Chittick at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Aberdeen on April 19, 1958. That was the smartest decision I ever made.

I served in the United States Army Reserve and was honorably discharged on November 30, 1962.

We farmed near Mellette until we moved to Rapid City in 1983, where I was a plumber and eventually started my own company. Kathy and I had seven children and managed somehow to educate everyone in what they chose to do - most likely because Kathy knew how to stretch a dollar and was the rock of our family for over 50 years. After the kids all graduated from college, we were able to travel and drive all over the United States. We also belonged to the Black Hills Woodcarvers and enjoyed our friends in Rapid and Aberdeen. Our children, daughters-in-law and son-in-law gave us fifteen grandchildren we loved. We also had many nieces and nephews in both families from coast to coast we loved.

Going before me were my parents, Ben and Blanche; my beloved wife, Kathy; our beloved oldest son, David; our grandson, Terry Joseph; my brothers, Don and Cyril "Bill"; and my sister, Patricia Downey.

I leave behind for now my children: Tevan (David) Fischbach of Aberdeen, Dan (Joan) of Trenton, MO, Jerry (Shawna) of Moorcroft, WY, Jon (Tamra) of Watertown, SD, Camille (Paul) Kiolbasa of Stillwater, MN, Bernie of Dallas, TX and Vic of Mellette; my brother, Bernard (Alvina) Fischbach of Aberdeen; my grandchildren: Brandon, Jerad, Nicole, Amber, Trey, Tacey, Tyan, Talissa, Benjamin, Danyelle, Olivia, Connor, Emily, Eddie and Annie; my brother-in-law, James (Judy) Chittick of Advance, NC; and my sister-in-law, Margaret (Ken) Oliphant of Portland, OR.

Thank you for loving me and for the memories. I believe we will all be reunited in Christ.

Visitation will be on Monday, October 27, 2014, from 5-7 p.m., at Schriver's Memorial Mortuary and Crematory, 414 5th Avenue NW, Aberdeen, with a wake service at 7:00 p.m.

Mass of Christian burial will be Tuesday, October 28, 2014, at 10:30 a.m., at Sacred Heart Catholic Church, 409 3rd Avenue SE, Aberdeen.

Burial will take place next to Kathy at the Calvary Cemetery in Mellette with military rites performed by the Brentford and Mellette American Legion Posts and with Taps being played by my grandson, Trey.

A luncheon and time of fellowship will follow the burial at All Saints Parish Hall in Mellette.

Memorials are preferred to either: WAVI (Working Against Violence, Inc.), 527 Quincy Street, Rapid City, SD 57701 or Habitat for Humanity.