Joseph W. Kobussen

Stoughton- Joe Kobussen, age 76, passed away on Monday, March 24, 2025, after an extended illness due to COPD. Joe was born to Daniel W. Kobussen and Lucille (Steger) Kobussen on August 12, 1948 in Beloit, Wisconsin. Joe married his high school sweetheart and best friend, Mary Kuehn, on August 16, 1969.

During his junior and senior year at Edgewood High School, he began his food service career running the family Chicken Delight restaurant on State Street in Madison. He was in the Air National Guard of Wisconsin and completed a marketing degree at Madison College. He eventually designed restaurants and sold restaurant equipment and supplies for the Milwaukee Cheese Company, Boelter, Joseph’s and U.S. Foodservice.

Joe was a family man and his time with his children, their spouses and grandchildren lit up his life. Joe’s hobbies included a love of hockey, which he played for years in Madison. He also enjoyed water skiing, snow skiing, and golf with his buddies. He was an avid Badger fan of hockey, women’s volleyball and men’s basketball.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Daniel and Lucille Kobussen; his brother-in-law, Don Fischer (Joanie); brother-in-law, Robert Kuehn (Sandy); brother-in-law, Jim Kuehn; and nephew, Tommy Kuehn.

Joe is survived by his wife of 55 years, Mary; his children, Karen Axford (Nathan), Lisa Wilcox (Tony), and Jennifer Spiegel (Jeremy), and 7 grandchildren: Ashley and Hayden Axford; Zachary, Connor and Katelyn Wilcox; and Brock and Bjorn Spiegel. He is further survived by his siblings, Richard (Susan); Paul (Rose Marie); Joanie Fischer; Terese Zache (Rob), Mary Fischer (John), and Dan (Lise). He is also survived by many beloved nieces, nephews and treasured friends.

Memorial services will be held at 11:30 AM on Sunday, April 13, 2025 at Cress Funeral Home, 206 W. Prospect Street, Stoughton. Friends may greet the family from 10:00 AM until the time of services Sunday at the funeral home. The service will be streamed for those unable to attend by using this link: https://event.forgetmenotceremonies.com/ceremony?c=6d849eff-c0fb-4769-bc5f-0ea5a15844b7 (please complete the 2 factor login for Forget Me Not Ceremonies).

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Agrace Hospice Center, 5395 E. Cheryl Parkway, Madison, WI 53711.

Our family sincerely thanks all of the nurses and staff for their loving care of Joe both during his time at home and his final days in the inpatient unit.

Please share your memories of Joe by posting in his Guestbook.

Cress Funeral Services

206 W. Prospect Street, PO Box 231, Stoughton

(608) 873-9244