Joseph “Joe” B. Coel, 82, of Waterford, passed away peacefully at Aurora Memorial Hospital of Burlington on Friday, Jan. 31, 2020, with family at his side.
Joe was born in Green Bay on July 10, 1937 to Joseph and Sarah (nee Bader) Coel. He spent his early life in Green Bay where he attended New Franken Elementary and graduated from Catholic Central High. He received his bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Wisconsin – Madison, and his master’s degree from the University of Wisconsin – Milwaukee. Joe married Jan Therrien in Oklahoma City on Oct. 19, 1963. The couple has five daughters. Joe began his career as a Mechanical Engineer for General Electric in Burlington, Vt., and retired from Empire Level in Mukwonago.
Joe was a proud member of St. Thomas Aquinas Church in Waterford. He helped with Friday fish fries. He loved people and was very generous, contributing to many charities that help children. He greatly enjoyed time at his cabin up north near Eagle River and could walk in the woods for hours. He looked forward to hunting with his nephews in the fall. Joe was a lifelong and enthusiastic Packers fan. He loved listening to polka bands, often accompanying with his fabulous whistling. He enjoyed woodworking, and tools and hardware in general. A loving husband, father, grandfather and great-grandfather, Joe will be greatly missed by all who knew him.
Joe is survived by Jan, his loving wife of 56 years; daughters, Lynn (Dave) Lammi of Hartland, Gaye (Roy) Tank of Appleton, Becky (Bob) Roback of Los Alamos, N.M., Gina Coel (David) of Eagle, and Patti (Joe) Brahm of Mukwonago; nine grandchildren, Kristin, Steven, Tom, Achille, Sophie, Joe, Ben, Macie and AJ; four great-grandchildren and many other relatives and friends.
Joe was preceded in death by his parents and his siblings, Marjorie (Pete) Vaness, Eleanor (Alvin) Vanness, Barbara (Dick) Jandrain and Harriet (Ken) Bauldry.
Visitation will be held on Thursday Feb. 6, 2020, from 9:30 to 10:45 a.m. with a Mass of Christian Burial beginning at 11 a.m. at St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Church, 305 South First Street in Waterford. Burial will take place in the church cemetery following Mass.
In lieu of flowers, memorials are suggested to either St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Church or St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.
The family wishes to thank the doctors and staff at Aurora Memorial Hospital of Burlington for their compassionate care of Joe.
Mealy Funeral Home is serving the family. Well-wishers may visit www.mealyfuneralhome.com.
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