Joseph “Joe” Steve Gefre, 87, of Aberdeen, passed away Sunday, May 4, 2014, at ManorCare Health Services in Aberdeen. Joseph’s wishes were to be cremated.
Mass of Christian Burial will be 1:00 p.m., Saturday, May 10, 2014, at St. Mary’s Catholic Church, 409 2nd Avenue NE, Aberdeen, with Father J. Joseph Holzhauser, Celebrant.
Burial follows at St. Mary’s Cemetery with Military Rites being conducted by Sidney L. Smith American Legion Post #24 of Aberdeen.
Schriver’s Memorial Mortuary and Crematory, 414 5th Avenue NW, Aberdeen, is in charge of arrangements. Friends may sign his online guestbook at schriversmemorial.com.
Visitation will be 5-7 p.m., Friday, at the mortuary, with a Liturgical Wake Service and Rosary at 7:00 p.m.
Joseph Steve Gefre, son of John and Eva (Geier) Gefre, was born on November 1, 1926, in Aberdeen, SD. He attended parochial school at St. Mary’s and graduated from Aberdeen Central High School with the Class of 1944.
Joseph entered the United States Navy during WWII in April of 1945, serving in the South Pacific, Japan, Hawaii, Panama Canal and Guam. He received his Honorable Discharge on July 12, 1946.
Following his return to the states, Joseph began what became an over 50- year long career painting and doing refinishing work for Wallace Parry, Martyn-Edwards & Grote Brother’s Body Shop. He also worked for Dakota Style Company.
On June 19, 1950, Joseph married the love of his life, Darlene Schwab, at St. Mary’s Church in Aberdeen. The couple made Aberdeen their home, and was blessed with five children.
Joseph was a life-long member of St. Mary’s Catholic Church and was actively involved in their church choir for over 30 years. He was also a lifetime member of the V.F.W.
He enjoyed hunting, fishing and anything pertaining to Roncalli High School in Aberdeen, where he was inducted into the Roncalli Hall of Fame in 2010. He also enjoyed visiting with friends at the north McDonald’s. Above all, Joe loved his family and especially cherished the time spent with his grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
Blessed to have shared Joe’s life is his wife of nearly 64 years, Darlene Gefre of Aberdeen; one son, Dallas Gefre of Denver, CO; three daughters: Jolene (John) Nerdahl of Arizona, Carla (Kevin) Dandurand of Apple Valley, MN and Jody (Rick) Dilts of Milbank, SD; seven grandchildren: Jarrod (Maura) Waetjen of Alexandria, VA, Riley (Ashley) Dandurand of Clark, SD, Dustin (April) Dandurand of Urbandale, IA, Justin Amsler and fiancé, Cassie of St. Paul, MN, Eric Dandurand of Apple Valley, MN, and Austin Dilts and Erin Dilts, both of Brookings, SD; three great-grandsons: Jordan, Bentley and Teddy; one brother, Jerry Gefre of Owatonna, MN; and many nieces and nephews.
He is preceded in death by his parents; one son, Darwin, in 2004; one brother, Tony (Alice) Gefre; three sisters: Helen (Henry) Miller, Marie (Al) Lipusch and Kay (Don) Burlingham; and one sister-in-law, Leona Gefre.
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