Joseph Berscheit

Joseph A. "Joe" Berscheit, age 85 of Melrose, died Monday, September 17, 2012 at St. Michael's Hospital in Sauk Centre, Minnesota.

Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11 a.m. Friday, September 21 at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Melrose with Rev. Marvin Enneking officiating and Rev. Ken Thielman concelebrating. Interment will be in the parish cemetery. Military honors provided by the Melrose Veterans Honor Guard.

Visitation will be from 4 to 8 p.m. Thursday and from 8 to 10:30 a.m. Friday at the Patton-Schad Funeral Home in Melrose. Parish prayers will be held at 7 p.m. Thursday evening at the funeral home.

Joseph Anthony Berscheit was born September 4, 1927 in Birchdale Township, Todd County, Minnesota to Lawrence and Emma (Hessing) Berscheit. He was born and raised on a farm West of Grey Eagle. Joe attended and graduated from Grey Eagle High School. He enlisted in the U.S. Army from 1947 through 1949. He married Frances Schulzetenberg on October 14, 1952 at St. Boniface Catholic Church in Melrose. Joe worked for the Burlington Northern Railroad for 22 years and also at Stearns Cooperative for 21 years.

He was member of St. Mary's Catholic Church. Joe loved hunting, fishing and spending time with his son and family and was a big Minnesota Twins fan.

Survivors include his son, Glenn (Mary) Berscheit of Otsego; granddaughter, Sarah Berscheit at home; and sisters, Helen Barthel of St. Cloud and Mary Jo Berscheit of New York, New York.

Joe was preceded in death by his wife, Frances Berscheit on July 24, 2009; parents; infant daughter, Brenda Berscheit; brothers, Jerome Berscheit, Walter Berscheit, Ernest Berscheit, Richard Berscheit, and Eugene Berscheit; and sisters, Genevieve Schlagheck and Bernadine Hoffman.

Serving as casket bearers will be Jerry Berscheit, Larry Berscheit, Mark Berens, Jim Schulzetenberg, Marvin Thielen, and Gary Hinnenkamp. Cross bearer will be Sarah Berscheit and scripture bearer will be Brian Thielen. Honorary bearers will be Al Mayers, Cyril Braegelmann, Ed Schulzetenberg, Gilbert Klaphake, Clyde Tise, Clarence Gerads, John Caspers, Dick Van Beck, Nick Braegelmann and Mike Braegelmann.