Joseph Benjamin Haberthier Sr.

1932 - 2022

Joseph Benjamin Haberthier Sr.

March 5, 1932 - February 18, 2022

Joseph Benjamin Haberthier Sr., 89, of Hickory, died Friday, Feb. 18, 2022, at home, surrounded by family and friends.

Born in St. Louis, Mo., March 5, 1932, to the late Benjamin and Hazel Haberthier, Joe was one of seven children.

Joe learned many lessons as a child during the Great Depression living in a railroad storage unit with no running water, heat or electricity. From his early hardships, the roots of a deep empathy were planted. Joe always looked out for the less fortunate and became a thankful and appreciative man, especially of his family.

He served in the Army as an artillery specialist in Germany during the Korean War in 1952 and then served as an Army reservist unit until his discharge in 1960. Through his Army experience and with the assistance of the GI Bill, Joe attended Harris Teachers College and earned a Bachelor of Arts in education in 1961. Joe went on to become an elementary school teacher, a job that he spoke about his entire life.

After getting married and starting a family, Joe embarked on a new venture that would become his lifelong career in sales until his retirement from Hartz Mountain in 1992. He remained lifelong friends with many of his Hartz Mountain co-workers. Joe continued to feed his kind hearted soul by lending kind words and a helping hand to others as a part-time produce specialist at the Spruce Pine Walmart, as well as the Burnsville Ingles and the Yancey County Recycling Center in Burnsville.

Joe remained an avid volunteer, donating his time to the Yancey County Lions Club, delivering Meals on Wheels, working at the First Presbyterian Reconciliation House and was a visiting angel for many Yancey County Homebound seniors, always delivering gifts of kindness with a heartfelt smile and endless love into his 80s.

Always a fierce competitor, Joe enjoyed playing games of cards, billiards, bowling, darts, softball and his beloved game of scrabble. He was very proud to be a regular participant in the Senior Games as a part of the Yancey County team.

Joe's presence alone was a gift to those who knew him. He would light up a room with his smile and humor, but it was his kindness and sweet nature that would leave a lasting impact on the community that knew him. A man of strong faith, he became an active member of the First Presbyterian Church in Burnsville.

Those left to carry on his legacy are his four children, Laura Bagley of Athens, Ga., Lisa Foote of Charleston, S.C., Joseph Haberthier Jr. of Winston-Salem, and Leslie Shaw of Hickory; along with seven grandchildren and several great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his granddaughter, Meghan Bagley. He leaves behind three of his seven siblings and many nieces and nephews.

Joe's family would like to thank the staff and caregivers of Carolina Caring Hospice for their love and support during Joe's declining health as well as his caregivers at home, Joyce Price and Judy Eller.

In fulfilling his wish, the family has planned a celebration of life to honor and remember him to be held Saturday, April 9, at First Presbyterian Church in Burnsville, at 1 p.m. It will include music, pictures and his family will dedicate a garden bench in his name for the church to enjoy. The public is invited to come, share a memory with his family and be surrounded by those who were touched by his generous heart. It will be a potluck, so feel free to bring a dish to share.

Memorials may be made to any charity that helps children, the elderly, animals or the food insecure. You may also make a donation to First Presbyterian Church in Burnsville in his name.

The family invites everyone to please visit www.jenkinsfuneralhome.net to share a memory on the tribute wall.

www.jenkinsfuneralhome.net