Joseph "Joe" Middendorf

Joseph L. “Joe” Middendorf, age 89 of Sauk Centre, passed away peacefully, surrounded by his family on Wednesday, December 22, 2021 at the CentraCare Care Center in Melrose, Minnesota.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11 a.m. Tuesday, December 28 at St. Paul’s Catholic Church in Sauk Centre with Rev. Greg Paffel officiating. Interment will be in the parish cemetery.

Visitation will be from 4 to 8 p.m. Monday at the Patton-Schad Funeral Home in Sauk Centre and from 9:45 to 10:45 a.m. Tuesday at the church.

Joseph Lawrence Middendorf was born June 12, 1932 in Sauk Centre Township, Stearns County, Minnesota to Joseph and Veronica (Toenyan) Middendorf. He was united in marriage to Luella Leukam on June 14,1956 at St. Boniface Catholic Church in Melrose. Joe was a true farmer and enjoyed working the land. He was a member of St. Paul’s Catholic Church in Sauk Centre. In his early years, Joe enjoyed ice fishing. Later in life, he enjoyed spending winters down south and spending time with his family.

Survivors include his loving wife of 65 years, Luella “Lou” Middendorf of Sauk Centre; children, Barb (Mark) Massmann of Long Prairie, Ron (Cindy) Middendorf of Melrose, Paul (Bonnie) Middendorf of Long Prairie, Kurt (Amy) Middendorf of Long Prairie, Keith (Jennifer) Middendorf of Sauk Centre, Jeff (Friend Tina) Middendorf of Sauk Centre, and Lisa (Steve) Goerdt of Melrose; daughter-in-law, Denise Middendorf of Long Prairie; brothers and sisters, LeRoy (Adeline) Middendorf of Sauk Centre, Victor (Florence) Middendorf of Melrose, Margaret Klasen of Sauk Centre, Betty Thieschafer of Melrose, and Gerald (Diane) Middendorf of Sauk Centre; 25 grandchildren and 29 great-grandchildren; and sisters-in-law, Marilyn Middendorf, and JoAnn Middendorf.

Joe was preceded in death by his son, Glen Middendorf; grandson, Dustin Middendorf; parents; brothers, George Middendorf, Bill Middendorf, Ralph Middendorf, and Arthur Middendorf; brother-in-law, John Klasen, Ron Thieschafer; and sister-in-law, Edna Middendorf.