Joseph Matthew Rubesch

LODI- Joseph M. Rubesch, age 92, of Lodi, passed away on Friday, Feb. 5, 2016. He was born on Oct. 13, 1923, in Rice Lake, Wis., to Olga and Joseph H. Rubesch. Joe attended St. Joseph and Public school in Rice Lake and graduated in 1941. He enlisted in the U.S. Navy and received his basic training at the Farragut Naval Training Station. Upon graduation, he was assigned to the USS Guadalcanal and attended the Point Loma Radar Training School in San Diego, Calif. The USS Guadalcanal was engaged in anti-submarine patrol in the Battle of the Atlantic. It was the only vessel in modern times to capture an enemy man-of war, the German U Boat 505 off the East coast of Africa. Today the U Boat 505 is on display at the Museum of Industry and Science in Chicago. The Task force was awarded The Presidential Unit Citation. After serving two years at sea he was assigned to shore duty as Petty Officer in charge of the Naval Radar Base at Beavertail Point, Rhode Island. He was discharged from the Navy on Feb. 17, 1946. Joe was employed by the Wisconsin Conservation Department at Spooner and in September of 1946 was assigned as a Conservation Warden serving at Hurley, Green Bay and Dodgeville. On June 1, 1958, he was promoted as a Special Investigator with the Bureau of Law Enforcement in Madison. On April 24, 1968, he was promoted to Chief of the Special Investigation Section, supervising operations directed at habitual and commercial violation in the state and coordinating investigative efforts to curtail national illegal resource activities. He retired on Dec. 31, 1978, after serving more than 32 years of dedicated service to the citizens of Wisconsin. Joe married Kathleen Russell on April 23, 1960, at St. Joseph's Church in Dodgeville. Joe was a charter member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars in Dodgeville, life member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars Brandt-Pache Post in Poynette and a member of the American Legion Post No. 0216 in Lodi. Joe was an honorary life member of St. Patrick's Knights of Columbus Counsel in Lodi and a 4th degree Life Member of the Holy Trinity Knights of Columbus Assembly of Waunakee. Other organizations with whom he was active are the Association of Retired Conservationist, Wisconsin Voyagers Chapter of the Family Motor Coach Association, National Rifle Association, USS Guadalcanal Task Group Association, Wisconsin Conservation Warden's Association and the United States Naval Memorial. Joe enjoyed hunting and fishing in the Western States and Canada, traveling in the motorhome, woodworking and time spent at the cabin on the Flambeau River. Joe also participated in being part of the honor flight for World War II Veterans in 2013. He is survived by his wife, Kathleen; and a sister, Dorothy (LeRoy) Moore of Milwaukee; and numerous nieces and nephews. Joe was preceded in death by his parents; a sister, Elaine Podoll of Milwaukee; and a brother, Francis (Joyce) of Spooner. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at BLESSED TRINITY CATHOLIC PARISH AT ST. PATRICK'S CHURCH, 521 Fair St., Lodi, at 11 a.m. on Thursday, Feb. 11, 2016, with the Rev. Father Chad Droessler presiding. Burial will be at Northern Wisconsin Veteran's Memorial Cemetery. Visitation will be at HAMRE GUNDERSON FUNERAL HOME, 157 S. Main St., Lodi, from 4 p.m. until 7 p.m. on Wednesday, Feb. 10, 2016, with a Rosary recited at 3:30 p.m.