Joseph Motz, Sr., age 96, died on Saturday, May 18 at Pleasant View Nursing Home. Joe was born in Monroe, Wisconsin on April 10, 1923, the son of German immigrants Anton and Agatha (Schupp) Motz. He attended the Blaine Rural School and graduated from Monroe High School in 1941. Joe served in the U.S. Army from 1944 to 1946 with the 87th Infantry Division “Golden Acorn” and was in combat while crossing Europe during the final months of World War II. He married Ruth Gabioud on February 5, 1949 at St. Michael Catholic Church at Yellowstone in Argyle. Joe was an accomplished cheesemaker and operated the Richland (Pfund) factory and West Clarno Co-op specializing in swiss cheese. In his later years he worked for the Chalet Cheese Co-op until his full retirement at age 80. Joe was an active member of St. Victor’s Catholic Church, a member of V.F.W. Post 2312 of Monroe and a member of the Green County Forestry Education Center where he served as president for several years. He enjoyed traveling with his wife throughout the United States, to Germany to visit his relatives and visiting his children and their families. He was an avid card player throughout his life and enjoyed playing Euchre almost daily during his stay at Pleasant View Nursing Home.
Joe and Ruth raised a family of five children, Theresa (Greg) Soley of Arkdale, WI, Mary (Lance)Cottrell of Tomahawk, WI, Joe (Julie) Motz of Red Wing, MN, Francis (Lisa) Motz of Janesville, WI and Monica (Steve) Schneider of Monroe. He had 10 grandchildren - Michael and Eric (Ashley) Soley, Justine and Andrew Cottrell, Aaron (Ana) Motz, Laura (Ryne) McNamara, Alexandra and Elias Motz and Abbey and Brian Schneider. His great grandchildren were Mckenzie, Halie and Aubrie Motz; Jase, Kade and Cal McNamara; Lyla and Landon Soley. Joe was preceded in death by his parents, his wife-Ruth, his brother-Anton “Tony” Motz and his sister, Hedwig West.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Friday, May 24, 2019 at 11:00 a.m. at St. Clare of Assisi Parish at St. Victor Catholic Church with Monsignor Larry Bakke, Celebrant. Interment with military rites will follow in Calvary Cemetery, Monroe. Visitation will be at the church on Friday from 9:30 a.m. until the time of service. In lieu of plants/flowers the family requests memorials be made to St. Victor Catholic Church, the Green County Forestry Education Center, or the National Historic Cheesemaking Center in Monroe. Condolences may be shared at www.newcomerfuneralhome.net
The family is grateful for the compassionate and loving care given to Joe by the Pleasant View Nursing Home staff and St. Croix Hospice staff.
