Joseph Petschauer

Joseph Petschauer, 87, of Manchester, Tennessee, passed away on Friday, January 30, 2026.

Joseph, known by family and friends as Joe, was born as the fifth of seven children on September 5, 1938, in Springfield, Illinois, to Albert and Laura Petschauer.

He graduated from Lanphier High School in Springfield before joining the United States

Air Force in 1956.

During his military service, Joe met Janice Plane while stationed at Alconbury Air Force Base in Cambridgeshire, England. The two married in Jan's home village of Drayton, Norwich, England, on March 7, 1959. The first of the couple's four children was born in the United Kingdom before the family relocated to the United States in 1960.

Following eight years of service, Joe spent much of his career working as an industrial engineer for multiple companies. His hobbies included carpentry and tinkering with all things mechanical. Throughout the 1980s, he and Jan operated a woodworking and picture frame business from their home in Tennessee.

Joe is survived by daughters Maria Porter and spouse Dennis, Cindy Trail and spouse Robert, and Stacey Wiedower and spouse Lance, as well as son Michael Petschauer and spouse Darlene.

Joe also is survived by 11 grandchildren and 20 great-grandchildren, as well as sisters Lucy Pease, Patricia Maybury and Betty Roseberry.

He was preceded in death by his wife Jan, his parents, his grandson Benjamin Joseph

Trail, and siblings Sue Keddy, Lois Shue and John Petschauer.

A private family memorial service will take place in Manchester.

Online condolences may be made at www.davesculbertsonfuneral home.com

Daves-Culbertson funeral home is honored to assist the family of Joseph Petschauer.