Gerald "Joe" Edward Kroetsch

Mr. Gerald E. “Joe” Kroetsch, 79 of Snover, passed away Tuesday, February 3, 2015 at the Sanilac County Medical Care Facility in Sandusky. Joe was born on October 16, 1935 in Snover to the late Charles and Hilda (Hergott) Kroetsch. He married Suzanne Fisher on October 19, 1968 at St. Mary Catholic Church in Parisville. Joe was a graduate of the Urban Country School and a 1954 graduate of Sandusky High School. He served two years in the US Army. Joe worked on the family farm for a short time. He was also employed at the Flint Fisher Body Plant and Bismack Hardware in Minden City. Joe worked for Snover Stamping for 32 years and at Deckerville Die Form for 2 years before he retired in 2000. He was a life long parishioner at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Argyle where he served as an usher, Eucharistic Minister and parish council member. He was also a life long member of the Sandusky Knights of Columbus Council #4693, a 4-H leader in the Laing Superstars Club and a member of the Country Couples Marriage Encounter group. Joe enjoyed the outdoors and nature, including cutting firewood, hunting and fishing. He enjoyed woodworking and making homemade wine. Joe liked to play cards and truly enjoyed time spent with his family. Joe is survived by his wife of 46 years, Suzanne of Snover; three children, Alisa O’Mara and her husband, Michael of Orlando, Fla., Eric Kroetsch and his wife, Kim of St. Paul Minn., Jerry Kroetsch and his wife, Lesa of Schoolcraft, Mich.; 7 grandchildren, Melissa (Paul) Robertson of Lynchburg, VA, Heather (Andrew) Brown of Norfolk, VA, Bryan Paape of Orlando, Fla, Abby Lynn Kroetsch and Brayden Kroetsch, both of Schoolcraft, Anna Kroetsch and Easton Kroetsch, both of St. Paul, Minn., two great grandchildren, Autumn and Adalynn Brown of Norfolk, VA; three brothers and one sister, Willard (Shirley) Kroetsch of Snover, Leon Kroetsch of Lapeer, Kathleen (Vernon) Rich of Sandusky, Br. Jerome Kroetsch of Notre Dame, Ind..; one sister-in-law, Rosemarie Horan of Port Huron; one brother-in-law, Melvin (Carol) Fisher of Saginaw. Joe was preceded in death by two brothers, Wilfred Kroetsch and infant, Joseph; two sisters, Ruth Westbrook and Helen Reinelt. Mass of Christian burial will be 12:30 pm, Sunday, February 8 at St. Joseph Church of Good Shepherd Parish in Argyle. Rev. Charles Hammond, pastor will officiate. Burial will be in the St. Ignatius Cemetery in the spring. Visitation will be at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Argyle on Sunday from 10:30-12:30 pm. Memorials have been requested to the Family Discretionary Fund.