Joseph Kreeb Sr. "Rugman"'s Obituary
Joseph Francis Kreeb, Sr., son of Francis Joseph and Eva Violet Clara (Maurer) Kreeb, was born April 29, 1959, in Philadelphia, PA. He departed this life Friday, March 2, 2012, in Mercy Hospital, Springfield, at the age of fifty-two years, ten months and three days.
On September 9, 1978, he was united in marriage to Kathi Albertson, and to this union four children were born.
He was reared in Philadelphia and graduated from high school there. Later moving to Villas, NJ, where he met and married Kathi. It was while living in New Jersey, Joe learned the family business of carpet installation from his father, which has continued through the generations. He moved to Missouri in 1981 and in 1983 he and wife made their home in Wright County, Grovespring area. He had been working as a sub-contractor for the Imperial Carpet Shop in Strafford for several years.
Joe had professed his faith in Christ, and was raised in the Lutheran Faith. He was confirmed at the age of thirteen. In later years he was a member of the Hartville Assembly of God Church, where he was active in Royal Rangers. He also volunteered as an Assistant Boy Scout Leader, Red Cross in Philadelphia, a member of Grovespring Lions Club, and was very involved in Top Of The Ozarks Chapter of Bikers Against Child Abuse.
His family was very important to him and he cherished spending time with them. In his spare time he enjoyed his motorcycle, love to cook, was a runner, bicycling, fishing, hunting and traveling. One of his latest experiences was participating in Extreme Make Over, helping to build house number 2 in Joplin, Missouri.
Joe was preceded in death by his parents; his father-in-law, Joe Albertson; his step-father-in-law, Jake Clark; and a brother-in-law, Richard McGinley.
He is survived by his wife, Kathi, of the home; four children, Karen Tuck (Travis) of Springfield, MO, Joe Kreeb, Jr. (Tracy), of Lebanon, MO, Thomas Kreeb (Anah), of Grovespring, MO, and David Kreeb and his fiancée, Denise Overholser, of Springfield, MO; eight grandchildren, Ethan and Abby Tuck, Joseph Hunter Kreeb, James, Simon, Ruth and Andrew Kreeb, Jacob Overholser, and greatly antipsapated the arrival of the newest grandchild; his two sisters, Susan Kneeb Brown (Chuck), of Villas, NJ, and Carol Louise Kreeb McGinley, of Gilbertsville, PA; his mother-in-law, Katie Clark, of Lebanon, MO; five sisters-in-law, Pam Albertson, Dawn Albertson, Faith Cranmer (Harvey), Wendy Albertson, and Mary Amos (Walter);a brother-in-law, Tom Concord: a number of nieces and nephews;and many extended family that thought of him as poppy and dad.
We celebrate his life and accomplishments. The memories he created for his family and friends will live on in our hearts forever.
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