JOSEPH A. SCHEELE

Joseph A. ‘Jay’ Scheele, 81, Waterford, died Feb. 19, 2014. He was born in Milwaukee to the late Joseph and Marion Scheele. He spent his early life in Milwaukee where he worked at his family’s pharmacy in Wauwatosa and graduated from Pius XI High School. His family purchased a cottage in Waterford in the 1950s and soon they made it their permanent residence.

He met Dolores Huelskamp in Waterford and they were married on April 21, 1956, at St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Church. They moved into their new home shortly after marriage. There they raised two sons and resided in Waterford for 57 years.

He spent 40 years in the beverage industry working as a serviceman for Graf’s Beverage and the 7-up Bottling Co. In retirement, he worked for Lynch Truck Center. He was a member of St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Church, where for more than 50 years he was an usher; in the old church at the 10 a.m. Mass and in the new church at the 10:30 a.m. Mass.

He was a 55-year member of the Waterford Fire and Rescue Department, serving the past 22 years as the village fire inspector. He was currently a Waterford Village Board Trustee where he served several terms.

He loved the outdoors, working in his yard or garden. He was an avid Packer and Notre Dame football fan and enjoyed a good game of online or in person sheepshead. Most of all he relished spending time with his family, especially his two grandchildren.

Survivors include his loving wife of 57 years; sons, Jeffrey (Susan), New Berlin, and Kevin (Lisa), Pewaukee; grandchildren, Christopher and Sydney; a brother, Jerome (Margary), Leavenworth, Kan.; sisters and brothers-in-law, Joe Huelskamp, Richard (MaryLou) Huelskamp, Glen (Barb) Huelskamp, Judi (Rick) Haydu, Joan (Doug) Anderson, Ruth (Pat) Kretschmer; nieces; nephews; other relatives and friends.

He was further preceded in death by his brother and sister-in-law, Jim (Mary) Scheele; along with brothers and sisters-in-law, Ralph Huelskamp, Anton Huelskamp and Donna (Harold ‘Hal’) Gasser.

Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated Monday, Feb. 24, at noon at St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Church, 305 S. First St., Waterford. Visitation in church is Monday from 9-11:30 a.m. Firefighter services will be held in Church at 11:45 a.m. Burial is in St. Thomas Cemetery following Mass. In lieu of floral expressions of sympathy, the family suggests memorials be made to either Waterford Fire and Rescue or to St. Thomas Church. Mealy Funeral Home, Waterford, is serving the family.

Well-wishers can visit www.mealyfuneralhome.com.