Joseph Schulzetenberg

Joseph "Joe" Schulzetenberg, age 87 of Freeport, died Wednesday, March 2, 2011 at the VA Medical Center in St. Cloud, Minnesota.

Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11a.m. Monday, March 7 at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Freeport with Rev. Luke Steiner officiating. Entombment will be in the parish cemetery. Military Honors will be provided by the Melrose Veterans Honor Guard.Friends may call from 4 to 8 p.m. Sunday and from 10 to 11 a.m. Monday at the church in Freeport. Parish prayers will be held at 5 p.m. followed by the St. Joseph's Society, Melrose Lions Club, and the Melrose Veterans Honor Guard at 7 p.m. Sunday evening at the church.

Joseph Schulzetenberg was born December 25, 1923 in Melrose, Minnesota to Bernard and Rose (Welle) Schulzetenberg. He graduated from Melrose High School in 1942. Joe served in the US Navy on the USS Crow Wing during World War II in the South Pacific. On June 28, 1949 he married Eugenia Weier at St. Boniface Catholic Church in Melrose. He owned and operated Freeport Hardware for over 50 years. Joe was an outgoing person who loved visiting with his friends, family, and anyone else. He also enjoyed fishing, hunting, and sports, especially baseball.

He was a member of Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Freeport, an usher, and member of the St. Joseph's Society and the Crosier Apostolate. Joe was also a member of Schanhaar-Otte VFW Post 7050, Melrose Lions, and a charter member of the Freeport Lions.

Survivors include his loving wife of 61 years, Eugenia Schulzetenberg of Freeport; children, Diane (Michael) Pierce of Roseville, Gail (Philip) Osendorf of Freeport, and Brian (Michele) Schulzetenberg of Freeport; seven grandchildren, Joel, Kristen, Melissa, Ryan, Amber, Brandon, and Brady; three great-grandchildren, Ava, Isaiah, and Carson; brothers and sisters, Ed (Lorraine) Schulzetenberg of Melrose, Evelyn (Ken) Cook of Bellevue, Washington, Doris (Cyril) Braegelmann of Melrose, and Alice (Al) Mayers of Eagan; sisters-in-law, Lydia Schulzetenberg of Melrose and Marion Schulzetenberg of Melrose; and brother-in-law, Joe Berscheit of Melrose.

Joe was preceded in death by his parents; sisters and brothers, Verena Thielen, Caroline Mareck, Urban Schulzetenberg, Roman Schulzetenberg, Rita Hinnenkamp, and Frances Berscheit.

Serving as casket bearers will be Joel Pierce, Mike Pierce, Brandon Schulzetenberg, Brady Schulzetenberg, Ryan Osendorf, and Phil Osendorf. Cross bearer will be Janet Butkowski and scripture bearer will be Brian Schulzetenberg.