Joseph Daniel Dusek Sr.

DENISON - Joseph Daniel "Joe" Dusek Sr., passed on from this life on December 7, 2013. A Celebration of Life memorial service will be held on Friday, December 13 at 1:30 p.m. at Waples Memorial United Methodist Church in Denison. Family visitation will be held from 6 -8 p.m. Thursday, December 12 at Fisher Funeral Home in Denison, and also in the church parlor preceding the memorial service.

Joe is survived by his wife, Marjorie, of 67 years; three sons, J. Daniel Dusek Jr. of North Mankado, Minn., W. Forrest Dusek and wife Gina of Denison, C. Elijah Dusek and wife Lana of Denison; one daughter, Diana "Che Che" Smith and husband David, of Denison; grandchildren, Ryan R. Smith and wife Kamilia of Dallas, Julie Dyan Higginbotham and husband Ryan of Dallas, David M. Curry of Fort Worth, Randy Smith and wife Rachel of New Braunfels, Asher Underwood of California, Aaron Dusek and wife Cortnee of Denison, Ryan Dusek of New York City, Devon Dusek Schnitker and husband Josh of Pottsboro, Nicholas Dusek of Denison, Kaitlynn Dusek of Texarkana, and, Garrett Thompson of Denison; and special life-long friends, Forrest and Doris Mock of Tyler, who are godparents to Joe's children. Joe also is survived by nine great-grandchildren and numerous nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Vince and Albina Dusek; his brother, Albert Dusek; his sister, Doris Wiley; three sisters who died in infancy; and one daughter, Mary Louise Dusek Wedel.

Born June 6, 1918 in Granger to Vince Charles and Albina Martinets Dusek, Joe graduated in 1935 with honors from Granger High School. In 1940, he completed a correspondence course from LaSalle Extension University in business and salesmanship. A salesman all his life, he sold automotive parts for Wadel-Connely Company of Tyler and for the Automotive, Inc. of Fort Smith, Ark. From 1958 to 1964, Joe owned and operated Dusek Sporting Goods on Main Street in Denison. At the time of his retirement in 1980, he was the manager-automotive parts salesman for the Green Light Store in Denison.

In May 1941, Joe was drafted into the United States Army. He served overseas in the South Pacific for three and a half years earning the Service Medal with four Bronze Stars for the Milne Bay-New Guinea Campaign, the Philippine Liberation Medal, the Presidential Unit Citation, and the Purple Heart, earned during the invasion of the Philippine Islands. Joe attended Officer Candidate School in Brisbane, Australia in June of 1943 and was commissioned 2nd Lieutenant in the Ordnance Department as a supply-maintenance officer. In June 1945, he became the Company Commander at Mt. Rainier Ordnance Depot in Tacoma, Washington. From November 1945 through January 1951, Joe served as a Captain in the Army Reserve and was recalled to active duty during the Korean War, stationed at Ft. Bliss, El Paso as Post Ordnance Supply Officer. He was a lifetime member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars.

On October 16, 1946, Joe married Marjorie Wiggins of Denison. In 1954, he joined the Denison Rotary Club where he served as secretary-treasurer for 41 years and one year as president of the organization. Joe attended five International Rotary Conventions and served as District Secretary to three Rotary District Governors. During his years in Rotary, Joe was named a Paul Harris Fellow. Other awards include District Rotarian of the Year and Rotary Civic Award. Upon his retirement from Rotary in 2000, Joe was named Secretary-Treasurer Emeritus and was given a life-time membership.

Joe was active in many community activities. Among these was the Boy Scouts of America, where he served as a scout leader for 35 years, was District Chairman on the Circle Ten Council Executive Board and in 1970 was awarded the Silver Beaver award. During these years, Joe assisted his three sons in their scouting efforts and each received their Eagle Scout and God & Country Awards.

A long time member of Waples Memorial United Methodist Church, Joe served in various roles of leadership and service including Chairman of the Administrative Board, Lay Leader, Church School Superintendent, Chairman of the Day School Board, President of Methodist Men, Chairman of Usher's Committee. He was a member of the Methodist Church Commission on Education and was a charter member and past president of the Criterion Class.

After his retirement in 1980, Joe spent many years serving his community as a volunteer. Among these was the Texoma Medical Center Auxiliary where his volunteer hours were in the thousands. He founded the Heart Mender program at Texoma Medical Center and served as a mender until 2008. For more than 20 years he was a member of the Retired Senior Volunteer Program where he and his wife, Marjorie, were named Volunteer Couple of the Year in 2001. Other community activities included delivering Meals-on-Wheels.

In his spare time, Joe enjoyed raising roses and he was an avid fisherman. Joe could be seen in his later years fishing for trout at the Waterloo trout pool. Joe kept a yearly log where he recorded all fish caught since 1945 including the date caught, weight, and length of each fish which, when compiled, totaled one mile of fish weighing over 2-and-a-half tons.

Joe was integral in the development and construction of Wesley Village Assisted Living Facility in Denison. In September 2009, Joe and his wife, Marjorie, became a part of the Wesley Village community where he resided until his death.

Officiating at the service are Rev. Scott Wiley of Tyler, nephew of Joe; and Dr. Roy Spore, senior minister at Waples Memorial United Methodist Church. Pallbearers are David Bayless, Jr., Robert Crawley, James Green, Marcus Hubbard, Mike McKinley and Mike Wiggins. Honorary pallbearers are members of Joe's coffee group and other close friends.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Waples United Methodist Church or Wesley Village Assisted Living Facility. Condolences may be registered online at http://www.fisherfh.com/

Arrangements are under the direction of Fisher Funeral Home, 604 W. Main, Denison.