Joseph "Joe" Loehr

Joseph F. “Joe” Loehr, age 91 of Melrose, passed away peacefully surrounded by his family on Wednesday, June 28, 2023 at the St. Cloud Hospital in St. Cloud, Minnesota.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11 a.m. Thursday, July 6 at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Melrose with Rev. Marvin Enneking officiating. Interment will be in the parish cemetery.

Visitation will be from 8:30 to 10:45 a.m. Thursday at the church in Melrose.

Joseph Francis Loehr was born March 8, 1932 in Spring Hill, Minnesota to Mathias and Theresia (Gardner) Loehr. He farmed at a young age and later took over the family farm west of Spring Hill. On June 8, 1965 he was united in marriage to Jeanette Kortan at St. Paul’s Catholic Church in Sauk Centre. Together, the couple continued farming until 2002 when they retired and sold the farm to their son. Joe and Jeanette moved to Melrose. Farming was a big part of Joe’s life. Even though Joe was not on the farm, he continued to help his son.

He was a member of St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Melrose, St. Michael’s Men’s Society of Spring Hill, Paynesville Knights of Columbus and was a longtime member of the Stearns County & MN State Plowing Association. Joe enjoyed bowling, playing cards, especially Solo and 500, but most of all, spending time with his family and grandchildren.

Survivors include his wife, Jeanette Loehr of Melrose; children, Judy (Andy) Roehl of Foreston, Joey (Pamela) Loehr of Spring Hill, Mary Kay (Mark) Spanier of Big Lake, and Stacy (Jeff) Hellermann of Starbuck; and seven grandchildren, Jacob, John, and Breanna Loehr, Mason and Mitchell Spanier, and Emma and Isaac Hellermann.

Joe was preceded in death by his parents; brother and sister-in-law, Melvin (Genevieve) Loehr; and brother, Alphonse Loehr.

In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred.