Joe Bruender

Joseph D. Joe Bruender, age 57 of Mankato died Monday, May 3, 2004 at Immanuel-St. Josephs Hospital, Mankato.

Mass of Christian Burial will be Thursday at 10:30 a.m. at St. Joseph the Worker Catholic Church, with Rev. John Wilmot and Rev. Ted Hottinger, S.J. officiating. Interment in Woodland Hills Memorial Park. Visitation on Wednesday from 4-8 p.m. at Mankato Mortuary, with a Prayer Service at 7:30 p.m. and one hour before services at church on Thursday. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be given to an organization of the donors choice.

Joe was born April 28, 1947 in Mankato to Henry and Thora (Sorensen) Bruender. He graduated form Loyola High School in 1965. He graduated from Mankato State College with a B.S. degree in Elementary Education. He started his teaching career at Maynard Elementary School, then Holy Rosary Elementary and for the past 25 years has taught at Lake Crystal Welcome Memorial Elementary School. He was a member of St. Joseph the Worker Catholic Church and Minnesota Education Association. He enjoyed traveling, reading, gardening, spending time with family. Most of all Joe enjoyed teaching.

Joe is survived by his mother, Thora Bruender of Mankato; a sister and husband, Janice and Tom Schaible of Eagle Lake; two brothers and their wives, John and Betty Bruender of Mankato, Eugene and Joyce Bruender of Eagle Lake; aunts, uncles, nephews, nieces, cousins, and countless friends.

He was preceded in death by his father, Henry, and a nephew, Ken Bruender.