Joseph Hotter

Joseph "Joe" Hotter, age 76, of Menomonie, WI passed away at his home with his wife and oldest son by his side, on Friday, September 30, 2011. Joe had been diagnosed with pancreatic and colon cancer in August of this year. Joe was under the care of Mayo Clinic Health Systems Hospice, who the family would like to thank for their kind and compassionate care. Joe Hotter was born on March 27, 1935 in Arkansaw, WI to Arvie and Marjorie (Borchert) Hotter. Joe's father passed away when he was very young and his mother married Kenneth Olson, who raised Joe as his own son. Joe lived in the Menomonie area and then in the city of Menomonie where he attended school, graduating from Menomonie High in 1953. Joe married Rosemary Fedderly on November 30, 1956. To this union three sons were born. Rosemary later died of cancer. Joe married Marge (Alf) Froeschle on September 17, 1983 at Peace Lutheran Church in Menomonie, where Joe was a lifelong member. Joe joined the Menomonie Fire Department in 1971 and retired from the Fire Dep't as a platoon captain in 1990. Joe was a mechanic at Flick Auto Sales during and after high school. He then went to work for Marly McClelland at his Auto Repair and then worked at Knutson Auto Repair until his retirement, as well as being a full time fireman for 20 years. Later he worked for 3M as a security guard. Joe enjoyed the outdoors, especially fishing, hunting and snowmobiling. He was an avid snowmobiler, being active in the sport from the local clubs to the state level. He was the Association of Wisconsin Snowmobile Clubs Director for Dunn County and then later as the AWSC County Representative. Joe and Marge enjoyed many snowmobile trips over the years, encompassing Wisconsin, Minnesota, Upper Michigan and also into Canada. One of Joe's favorite things to do was spend time at the family cabin where he did a lot of fishing, deer hunting and snowmobiling. Joe is survived by his wife, Marge Sons, Jeffrey (Mary) Hotter of Menomonie, Tim (Cari) Hotter of Lutz, FL and Mark (Cherie) Hotter of Ellsworth, as well as a step-daughter, Jodi (Brian) Kohnke of Menomonie. Six grandchildren, Michael Hotter of Waukesha, Miranda Hotter of Menomonie, Ashley (Eric) Soley of Arlington, Derek Hotter of New York City, Travis and Kyla Hotter of Lutz, FL; four step-grandchildren, Tony (Yvette) Falkner, Cody Falkner, Brianna Kohnke and Jodi Anderson all of Menomonie and three step-great-grandchildren, Easton Anderson and Treyson Falkner of Menomonie and Jaxson Falkner of Moorhead, MN. His mother, Marjorie Olson of Menomonie. He is further survived by a sister, Marlene (Jim) Harjamaki of Virginia, MN, nieces Denise and Terri Papin of California and nephews Steve and Ted Harjamaki of Virgin, MN and several aunts and many cousins. Joe was preceded in death by his father Arvie, his first wife Rosemary, his step-father Kenneth Olson and several aunts and uncles. Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m. Tuesday, Oct. 4, 2011 at Peace Lutheran Church in Menomonie, with Pastor David Whelan officiating. Visitation will be from 4:00 to 8:00 p.m. Monday at Olson Funeral Home in Menomonie and at the church one hour prior to the service on Tuesday. Burial will be in Peace Lutheran Church Cemetery.