Date of Birth:
Wednesday, April 9, 1930
Date of Death:
Monday, October 9, 2023
Age:
93 years old

Joseph A. Pesch

Joseph Adam Pesch, 93, of Rochester, Minn., passed away peacefully, with his loving wife Mary at his side, on October 9, 2023, at Charter House in Rochester. Joe was born on April 9, 1930, in Fond du Lac, Wisc., to John Joseph and Evangeline (Brown) Pesch. Growing up in Campbellsport, Wisc., he led an adventurous childhood and recorded his memories in a book that he wrote titled, “Don’t Let Me Sleep ‘til Noon,” published in 2005.

Joe graduated from Campbellsport High School in 1948. He attended St. Norbert College in De Pere, Wisc., earning a bachelor’s degree in physics in 1952. Following graduation, he worked for the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) in the Kettle Moraine State Forest for eight months before he was drafted in February 1953. He joined the U.S. Army and was placed in the “scientific and professional” category, ultimately assigned to work in the Meteorology Branch at Dugway Proving Ground near Tooele, Utah and earning the rank of Corporal.

On May 9, 1953, Joe married Mary Genevieve Moquin at St. Mary’s Church in Fond du Lac. He met Mary in the summer of 1951 when he and a friend drove her and four other nursing students to a dance. Joe was immediately struck by Mary’s outgoing personality, and they began a loving relationship that has lasted over 70 years.

Following Joe’s discharge from the army in 1955, the couple moved to Iowa City, Iowa where Joe earned his master’s degree in physics at the University of Iowa in June 1957. They then moved their growing family to Milwaukee, Wisc. and Joe began working in the research department at Allis-Chalmers. In 1962, Joe was hired as a physicist by International Business Machines Corporation (IBM) and the family settled in Rochester, Minn. where they raised their family of nine children.

During his time at IBM, Joe worked on measuring the magnetic properties of various permanent magnet materials and iron alloys and developed two new techniques for measuring coercive force. He published research papers in physics journals and, in 1987, received an Outstanding Innovation Award from IBM for developing a method for detection of magnetic particulate contamination. He retired from IBM in May 1989.

When they first moved to Rochester, Joe and Mary joined the Christian Family Movement (CFM) where they established life-long friendships with other young couples in the Rochester area. They were parishioners of St. Pius X Catholic Church where Joe sang bass in the choir for nearly 25 years. Music was a strong influence in Joe’s life, and he also enjoyed wood working, camping, and travel.

Joe was preceded in death by his parents, his sisters Bernadine (Pesch) Scholl, Margaret (Pesch) Braun, and Mary Elizabeth (Pesch) Schaub, his brother Jack Pesch, his son Dr. Daniel G. Pesch, and his son in-law Robert P. La Hait. He is survived by his loving wife of 70 years, Mary; and children, Michael (Constance Perry) Pesch of St. Cloud, Minn., Kristi Pesch (daughter in-law) of Elgin, Minn., David (Valli) Pesch of Peoria, Ariz., Elizabeth (Timothy) Mackey of St. Cloud, Minn., Therese (Mark) Smith of Marion, Iowa, Thomas (Mary) Pesch of Sauk Rapids, Minn., Andrew (Beth) Pesch of St. Francis, Wisc., Maria Pesch of Smyrna, Ga., and Amy La Hait of Sudbury, Mass.; 21 grandchildren and 20 great-grandchildren.

The Pesch family wishes to express their deep appreciation to the staff and caregivers at Charter House’s Supportive Living unit, and Mayo Hospice.

A memorial service for Joe will be held on Saturday, November 4, 2023 at 2:00 p.m. at the Charter House Chapel in Rochester, Minn.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be given to Dorothy Day Hospitality House in Rochester, Minn., or Channel One Regional Food Bank and Food Shelf in Rochester.