Joe Pelishek

Joseph F. Pelishek Sr., age 83, passed away peacefully at home on Wednesday, January 2, 2019, after a lengthy illness. Joe was born on the family farm to the late Frank and Clara (Sauer) Pelishek on April 15, 1935, in the Town of Glenmore. He was a graduate of Denmark High School. On September 22, 1956, he was united in marriage to Carolyn Froelich at Holy Trinity Church, New Denmark.

Joe and Carolyn worked the family farm until Joe’s retirement in 1997. For many years Joe worked construction, and was a proud member of the Operating Engineers Local 139. He was a lifelong and active member of Western Fraternal Life Association, Lodge Verna Laska, No. 108. Joe enjoyed time spent with friends whether it was playing cards, polka dancing, going out to eat, or trips to the casino. As a longtime Green Bay Packer season ticket holder, he not only survived the “Ice Bowl,” but also endured watching the Packer teams of the 1970s and 1980s. In his later years his joys were being Grandpa Joe, watching the Milwaukee Brewers, going to the “Shack” to be with his buddies in the Scarboro Hunt Club, and sharing road trips to casinos and breakfast spots with his devoted Carolyn, who became his primary caregiver.

In addition to Carolyn, Joe is survived by his children, Amy (Susan Helms) Pelishek, Appleton; Lori (Jon) Morehouse, Denmark; Tami (Gary) Boehlke, Appleton; Joe Jr., Denmark; six grandchildren and ten great-grandchildren: Bridget (Tony) Morehouse and her children Brett, Carolyn, and Brock Winiecki; Jeremy (Kristin) Morehouse and their children, Turk, Zackary, and Abby; Jon (Kelly) Morehouse Jr. and their children, Alaina and Haley; Kerri (Brian) Schmidt and their children, Abraham and Natalie; Joshua (Holly) Boehlke, and Jorden Pelishek; sister LaVerne (LeRoy) Denk, Two Rivers; sisters-in-law Carla Roznowski, Joelle (Karen) Froelich, and Donna King all of Green Bay; Marilyn Court, Appleton; nieces and nephews.

Joe was preceded in death by his parents, his brother Harvey, brothers-in-law Melvin Brunner, Murray Froelich Sr., and Alvin Roznowski, and sister-in-law Donna Brunner.

Visitation will be held from 4 to 8 p.m. Monday, January 7, at Knutson-Cotter Funeral Home, (536 County R, Denmark) with a prayer service at 7:30 p.m. Visitation will continue at the funeral home Tuesday, January 8, from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. until the hour of Mass at 11 a.m. at Holy Trinity Catholic Church, (6397 County NN, Denmark), where Joe was a lifelong member. Online condolences may be expressed at www.cotterfuneralhome.com.

The family would like to thank the staff at the Denmark Bellin Clinic, Bellin Home Health, and Unity Hospice for their compassionate care, and to Leon Suster, Tom Mleziva, and his other “Shack” buddies for their devoted friendship in Joe’s final years.