Joseph Hochleutner

Joseph Fred Hochleutner, age 93 of Appleton, passed away on Friday, June 10, 2022, after a heroic battle with Alzheimer’s Disease. Joe passed peacefully into his Lord’s arms, at home, while surrounded by his loving family.

Joseph was born on February 25, 1929 in Chicago, Illinois to the late Bernard and Clara (nee Demuth) Hochleutner. Joe is the oldest of four. He was preceded in death by his brother Dale (Mary) Hochleutner, formerly of Elburn, IL and is survived by his two brothers, Don Hochleutner of Murrieta, CA and Jim Hochleutner of Downers Grove, IL.

Joseph met the love of his life, Lorraine (nee Hajny) while walking to school in 1942. They were married on June 25, 1949 and raised three boys together. Joe and Lor ran a custom furniture and upholstery business in Downer’s Grove, Illinois.

Joe was an amazing craftsman, he not only designed and built furniture for a living, he also built his and Lor’s first home and remodeled their next two homes. He and Lor designed and built their dreamhouse off Table Rock Lake in Shell Knob, Missouri, when they retired. There was nothing Joe couldn’t figure out how to fix. He was often found in his basement workshop making beautiful intarsia art pieces for those he loved most. When Joe wasn’t working in his workshop he could be found outside. He loved fishing, camping, hiking, bike riding, and gardening. He and his bride loved dancing, especially Polka and square dancing. He and Lor traveled to each of the 50 states, many of them with their sons, and to much Europe. Joe’s greatest joy was spending time with his family and friends. He especially loved spending time with children. In his final years he grew special bonds with his granddaughter’s friends and their children, who lovingly refer to him as their Grandpa Joe.

Joseph is survived by his sons: Daniel (Jolene) of Freedom, WI, Jeffrey (Catherine) of Elmhurst, IL, grandchildren: Matthew Hochleutner, Jennifer (Ralph) Taylor, Susanne (Alex) Selle, Dana (Jason) Robbins, Erica (Vince) Ruccia, and Kathryn Hochleutner, and great-grandchildren: Kelly, Hunter, Jeffrey, Andrew, Makenzie, Rocco, and Rosalia. He will be missed by numerous in-laws, cousins, nieces, nephews, and his brothers.

Joseph was reunited in heaven with his parents, his beloved bride Lorraine, his brother Dale Hochleutner, son Mark Hochleutner, and daughter-in-law, Cindy Bussey.

Services will be held Thursday, June 16, at Holy Spirit Parish W2796 County Hwy KK, Darboy phone 920.788.7640. Visitation will begin at 10:00AM followed by Funeral Mass at noon. A small graveside service will be held at St. Joseph Cemetery Appleton at 1:30pm.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests you to consider making a donation be made to the Alzheimer’s Association, in Joe’s honor. It was Joe’s wish for someone to find a cure for the disabling disease that took his memories and his life away from him.

The family would like to thank Dr. Jennifer Schoening from Kaukauna Clinic and the staff from Heartland Hospice, especially Nurse Kimberly and Joy for their loving care of grandpa in his final days.

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