Joseph 'Joe' Kroda

Joseph C. Joe' Kroda, age 71, passed away on Sunday, May 30, 2010 after a valiant battle with cancer and shingles.   He was born on August 19, 1938 in Brockett, North Dakota, the son of Joseph and Sadie Kroda.   Joe was united in marriage to Mary Ganser on June 25, 1960 and though just shy of 50 years of marriage, they were devoted to one another for more than 50 years.   In his life, Joe was a master of many trades, always finding a way to provide for his family; often times with more than one job at a time.   Joe enjoyed fishing, hunting and the outdoors.   In their later years, Joe and Mary traveled frequently to Texas and around the country for Daniel O'Donnell concerts.   More than anything else, he delighted in the accomplishments of his grandchildren.   Joe is survived by his wife, Mary; and his five children, Barb Kroda, Steve Kroda, Theresa (Rory) Rossman, Joanne (Todd) Westphal, and Joe Kroda; 4 grandchildren, Kayla, Emily and Erin Rossman, and Nicholas Westphal; sisters, Ruth Blake, Dorothy Willprecht and Esther Smith; and many other relatives and friends.   Joe was preceded in death by his parents, Joseph Kroda and Sadie Hein; his sister, Rose Kroda; his brothers, LeRoy Barnes and Ray Barnes; his brothers-in-law, Bud Blake, Calvin Smith and Harry Willprecht; sister-in-law, Ann Barnes; and his father and mother-in-law, Linus and Dolly Ganser.   A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Saturday, June 5, 2010 at 11:00 am at Christ the King Catholic Church, 5306 Main St., McFarland with Father D. Stephen Smith, celebrant.   Burial will follow at Sunset Memory Gardens in Madison.   The family will greet friends on Friday, June 4, 2010 from 4:00 to 7:00 pm at the Olson-Holzhuter-Cress Funeral Home in McFarland, and again at church on Saturday from 10:00 am until the time of service.   The family wishes to express gratitude to the staff of the Carbone Cancer Center at 1 S. Park St., and Hospice.   Memorials may be made to the Carbone Cancer Center and the National Shingles Foundation www.shinglesfoundation.org, or to the charity of your choice. Our strong and brave Poppy will be dearly missed by his entire family