Joseph L. “Joe” Loecken

Joseph L. “Joe” Loecken, age 92 of St. Martin, died peacefully, surrounded by his family on Thursday, March 15, 2018 at the CentraCare Health Nursing Home in Melrose, Minnesota.
A Mass of Christian Burial was held Monday, March 19 at St. Martin Catholic Church in St. Martin with Rev. Edward Vebelun, O.S.B. officiating and Rev. Ken Thielman and Rev. Roger Klassen, O.S.B. concelebrating. Interment was in the parish cemetery.
Joseph Louis Loecken was born May 6, 1925 in St. Martin, Minnesota to Peter and Alma (Schoenborn) Loecken. He graduated from Albany High School at the age of 17 in 1942. He was united in marriage to Theresa “Terri” Rausch on December 30, 1947 in Farming, Minnesota. The couple farmed in Cold Spring for 10 years and then farmed in St. Martin Township for 36 years until their retirement in 1991. They moved to Lake Maria near New Munich until 2010 and then moved to Park View Center in Melrose.
He was a member of St. Martin Catholic Church in St. Martin, St. Martin Catholic Order of Foresters and St. Joseph’s Men’s Society of New Munich and St. Martin. Joe was a baseball fanatic and went to many amateur baseball games. He was active with the Tel-Stars 4-H club for over 30 years. Joe was on the Stearns County Fair Board and the Stearns County Pork Producers Association, and he also sold seed corn for 30 years. He enjoyed hunting, fishing, and taking an occasional trip to the casino. One of Joe’s highlights of his life was being part of a private audience with the Pope when he was on a pilgrimage.
Survivors include his loving wife of 70 years, Terri Loecken of Melrose; children, Dennis (Connie) Loecken of Dent, Virgil (Dorine) Loecken of Sauk Centre, Donna (Mark) Herickhoff of Elrosa, Randy (Judy) Loecken of St. Martin, Joel (Michelle) Loecken of Crystal, and Shelly (Dan) Roiger of Canton, New York; 20 grandchildren and 42 great-grandchildren; and brother, James (Liz) Loecken of Swanville.
Joe was preceded in death by his parents; brother, Eugene Loecken; and sisters, Priscilla Klassen and Bernice Bible.
Serving as casket bearers were Russ Loecken, Ryan Loecken, Peter Loecken, Matthew Loecken, Kurt Herickhoff, and Craig Herickhoff. Cross bearer was Pamela Shaver and scripture bearer was Christine Jackson. Readers were Megan Russell and Brad Herickhoff and the petitions were read by Tricia Loecken. Gift bearers Sam Roiger, Sophie Latourelle, Joe Roiger, and Anna Latourelle and Mass Servers were Zadok Roiger and Jonathon Loecken. Special music was by Erik Larson, Stephanie Larson, Kristen Lingl, and Andrew Lingl.
Arrangements were made with Patton-Schad Funeral & Cremation Services.