Joseph "Joe" A. Lacher

         Joseph “Joe” A. Lacher, 96, of Aberdeen, passed away Wednesday, January 6, 2021, at Bethesda Home of Aberdeen.
             Mass of Christian burial will be 10:30 a.m., Tuesday, January 12, 2021, at St. Mary’s Catholic Church, 409 2nd Avenue NE, Aberdeen, with Father Mark Axtmann, Celebrant.
             Burial will take place at St. Mary’s Catholic Cemetery.
             Schriver’s Memorial Mortuary & Crematory, 414 5th Avenue NW, Aberdeen, is in charge of arrangements.  
             Visitation will be 5-7 p.m., Monday, at the mortuary, with a liturgical wake service beginning at 7:00 p.m.  Visitation continues one hour prior to Mass at the church on Tuesday. 
             Family and friends may sign Joe’s online guestbook and also view his service at www.schriversmemorial.com.
             Joseph A. Lacher was born July 29, 1924, in Trail City, SD, to Anton and Thresia (Schoch) Lacher.  He and his family moved to Hosmer, SD and then settled on a farm near Leola, SD.  Joe lived and co-farmed with his brother, Martin, in rural Leola until 1954.  He lost his hearing at a young age and attended a school for the hearing impaired in Sioux Falls, SD.  Joe lived with and cared for his mother for most of her life after his dad passed away.  He eventually moved to Aberdeen, where he worked for Dakota Sash and Door for many years before retiring.  
            Joe loved gardening and would can over 100 quarts of his produce every year.  His garden was one of admiration in Aberdeen.  He had a beautiful crop of tomatoes and potatoes every year and would often compete with his brother for the honor of biggest tomato.  Joe also enjoyed baseball and Western paperbacks and movies.  He loved driving around and traveled many miles to see family.  His cars were his pride and joy and he took very good care of them.  Joe also enjoyed dancing and his hearing impairment did not stop that!  
             Joe and his companion, Viola Bahl, met in 1980 at the VFW and were lifelong partners until her death on June 27, 2016.  They shared their love of dancing, and together took many trips to Kansas and Minnesota to visit family.  The couple shared many drives to Wylie Park and around the local lakes.  He and Vi attended Mass every Saturday and would go out for supper after.  Joe adored Vi and over the years, her family became his second family and he became “Grandpa” to all of Vi’s grandchildren.
             Joe was a brilliant man with an incredible memory and often told stories of his days growing up.  His loss of hearing did not stop him from loving time with family and friends, and of course, dancing!  Joe’s humor and wit were so appreciated by all who knew him.
             Joe is survived by his sister, Alice Geffre of Aberdeen; many nieces and nephews, great nieces and nephews and great-great nieces and nephews; and his “second family”:  Brenda (Neill) Dobler of Topeka, KS and their five children and six grandchildren, Kim (Brad) Nack of Sioux Falls, SD and their three children, Kathy (Jim) Morken of Rosemount, MN and their two children, and son-in-law, Floyd Schweigert of Aberdeen,  and his three children and seven grandchildren.
             He was preceded in death by his parents; two sisters; four brothers; his special companion, Vi Bahl; and Vi’s daughter, Joy.

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