Joseph G. Urban, 92, of Monroe died at home Wednesday, June 12.
The youngest of 10 children, he was born in Fort Atkinson on Feb. 22, 1921, to John and Katherine Urban.
After graduating from Fort Atkinson High School in 1938, he attended Marquette University in Milwaukee, earning a Bachelor's degree in Journalism. He spent the next four years serving in the Coast Guard during World War II.
On Jan. 25, 1947, at St. Joseph Church in Fort Atkinson, he was married to Sally Ann Linke of Fort Atkinson. They had met on a blind date on June 15th, 1941, a date they celebrated every year.
The couple started their life together in Fort Atkinson. At that time, Joe began his broadcasting career in Janesville. In 1951, they moved to Monroe, where Joe, Stan Neuberger and Grant Ritter started WEKZ radio station with the backing of four local businessmen, Willard Schuetze, Ed Schuetze, Ken Stewart and Dorn Zwygart.
Joe started at WEKZ in sales and became a familiar voice on the air for over 50 years. He later took on the role of Manager and enjoyed writing his "Looking Up" segments that were broadcast daily at the station.
His hobbies included vegetable gardening, camping with his family and in later years traveling with friends. At the age of 50, Joe learned how to snow ski and enjoyed many skiing trips with friends.
Joe was active in the community and served on many boards of directors. He was President of Green County Historical Society during the time The Little Red School House was moved to its current location. Joe also served on the committee responsible for saving the United Methodist Church building that eventually housed the Monroe Arts Center. He was instrumental in the building project for the current St. Victor School and was also involved with the local Boy Scouts.
Joe was known to have a wonderful yet, at times, dry sense of humor that was appreciated by both family and friends. He had a great interest in people and a deep love for his family. He was kind and truly a gentleman.
Preceding him in death were his parents; three brothers, John, William and Matthew; six sisters, Leona Anderes, Catherine Judge, Marie Urban, Lillian Carr, Rosemary Loeb and Frances Urban; a granddaughter, Heather Urban; and his wife, Sally, who died April 16, 2009, at the age of 86.
Surviving are his six children, Susan Urban of Middleton, Peter Urban of Clinton, Mass., Mary Jo (Donn) Groom of New Zealand, Paul (Kay) Urban of Monroe, David (Alice) Urban of Hudson and Matthew (Rhonda) Urban of Monroe; 10 grandchildren, five great-grandchildren with two more on the way and four step great-grandchildren.
Grandchildren include Peter's three children, Benjamin (Rebecca) Urban, Josie Urban and Michael Urban; Mary's children, Joshua (Merewyn) Groom and Daniel Groom; Paul's daughter, Nicole (Matthew) Masso; David's children, John Urban and Corinne Urban; and Matthew's children, Teresa Urban and Joseph Urban. Joe is also survived by Kay's children, Thomas (Patti) Stauffacher and Carrie (Brian) Wyss.
Visitation will be from 2-5 p.m. Sunday, June 16th, at Shriner Hager-Gohlke Funeral Home in Monroe.
The funeral service will be at 11 a.m. Monday, June 17th, at St. Clare of Assisi parish at St. Victor Catholic Church in Monroe.
Memorials are preferred to St. Clare of Assisi Parish, Monroe Arts Center or the American Cancer Society.
Condolences may be sent to the family at: shriner111.com.
The youngest of 10 children, he was born in Fort Atkinson on Feb. 22, 1921, to John and Katherine Urban.
After graduating from Fort Atkinson High School in 1938, he attended Marquette University in Milwaukee, earning a Bachelor's degree in Journalism. He spent the next four years serving in the Coast Guard during World War II.
On Jan. 25, 1947, at St. Joseph Church in Fort Atkinson, he was married to Sally Ann Linke of Fort Atkinson. They had met on a blind date on June 15th, 1941, a date they celebrated every year.
The couple started their life together in Fort Atkinson. At that time, Joe began his broadcasting career in Janesville. In 1951, they moved to Monroe, where Joe, Stan Neuberger and Grant Ritter started WEKZ radio station with the backing of four local businessmen, Willard Schuetze, Ed Schuetze, Ken Stewart and Dorn Zwygart.
Joe started at WEKZ in sales and became a familiar voice on the air for over 50 years. He later took on the role of Manager and enjoyed writing his "Looking Up" segments that were broadcast daily at the station.
His hobbies included vegetable gardening, camping with his family and in later years traveling with friends. At the age of 50, Joe learned how to snow ski and enjoyed many skiing trips with friends.
Joe was active in the community and served on many boards of directors. He was President of Green County Historical Society during the time The Little Red School House was moved to its current location. Joe also served on the committee responsible for saving the United Methodist Church building that eventually housed the Monroe Arts Center. He was instrumental in the building project for the current St. Victor School and was also involved with the local Boy Scouts.
Joe was known to have a wonderful yet, at times, dry sense of humor that was appreciated by both family and friends. He had a great interest in people and a deep love for his family. He was kind and truly a gentleman.
Preceding him in death were his parents; three brothers, John, William and Matthew; six sisters, Leona Anderes, Catherine Judge, Marie Urban, Lillian Carr, Rosemary Loeb and Frances Urban; a granddaughter, Heather Urban; and his wife, Sally, who died April 16, 2009, at the age of 86.
Surviving are his six children, Susan Urban of Middleton, Peter Urban of Clinton, Mass., Mary Jo (Donn) Groom of New Zealand, Paul (Kay) Urban of Monroe, David (Alice) Urban of Hudson and Matthew (Rhonda) Urban of Monroe; 10 grandchildren, five great-grandchildren with two more on the way and four step great-grandchildren.
Grandchildren include Peter's three children, Benjamin (Rebecca) Urban, Josie Urban and Michael Urban; Mary's children, Joshua (Merewyn) Groom and Daniel Groom; Paul's daughter, Nicole (Matthew) Masso; David's children, John Urban and Corinne Urban; and Matthew's children, Teresa Urban and Joseph Urban. Joe is also survived by Kay's children, Thomas (Patti) Stauffacher and Carrie (Brian) Wyss.
Visitation will be from 2-5 p.m. Sunday, June 16th, at Shriner Hager-Gohlke Funeral Home in Monroe.
The funeral service will be at 11 a.m. Monday, June 17th, at St. Clare of Assisi parish at St. Victor Catholic Church in Monroe.
Memorials are preferred to St. Clare of Assisi Parish, Monroe Arts Center or the American Cancer Society.
Condolences may be sent to the family at: shriner111.com.