Joseph Russell Avdek

Joseph Russell Avdek (Jody) ObituaryEden Prairie, MN - Joseph Russell Avdek, age 76, passed away peacefully on January 6, 2026. Joe was born in Bettendorf, IA, in 1949, and spent the majority of his childhood in the Quad Cities area. When he was a teenager, his family relocated to Mequon, WI, where he graduated from Homestead High School in 1967, starring on the Football and Wrestling teams. In 1971, he graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Madison with a Bachelor of Science degree.

Joe worked in sales for over 50 years, which eventually brought him to Minneapolis. There he met the love of his life, Debbie, and her three children. The couple married in 1982 and Joe helped raise her children as if they were his own.

Joe loved baseball, westerns, cartoons and telling stories. But, his greatest joy was being a devoted husband, father and grandfather. He will be remembered for his kind heart, big smile, bigger laugh and goofy sense of humor. He will be forever missed.

Joe is preceded in death by his parents, Joseph and Bernie, son Jeffrey Anderson, and brother Karl. Joe is survived by his wife of 43 years, Debbie, children Gregory Anderson, Kirk (Jayme) Anderson, grandchildren Piers and Isla, brother Kurt, sister Sara (Bruce) Nordgren, and several nieces and nephews.

Please join us in celebrating Joe's life on March 7, 2026 from 2-5:00 p.m., at Brookview Community Center, 316 Brookview Parkway South, Golden Valley, MN 55426.