Joseph “Joe” Mary Abrego

Joseph “Joe” Mary Abrego
November 10, 1949 - September 14, 2016
 
Funeral services for Joseph Mary Abrego will be held at 10:30 on Monday, September 19, 2016 at the St. Theodore Catholic Church.  Father Russell Scepaniak will officiate.  Visitation will take place from 3 – 5 PM on Sunday at Bonnerup Funeral Chapel, Albert Lea, and again one hour prior to the funeral service at the church.  Interment will take place at St. Theodore Catholic Cemetery.
Joseph passed away on Wednesday, September 14, 2016 at Thorne Crest Senior Living Community.  He was 66 years old.
Joseph “Joe” Mary Abrego was born on November 10, 1949 in Hayward, MN to Manual and Mathilda (Garcia) Abrego.  He was a lifetime member of the Albert Lea area.  On November 18, 1967, Joe was united in marriage to Joyce (Slinde) in Bricelyn.  To this union, three children were born.  Joe and his family were members of St. Theodore Catholic Church.
Joe worked at Universal Cooperative and then later Streaters where he worked at a press.  He retired from Streaters in 2014.  He was a member of the Steel Workers Union and the Carpenters Union; always being a “union man.”  Aside from work, Joe enjoyed fishing, going to garage sales, and cheering on his Minnesota Vikings and Twins.   His family was most important to him, especially his grandchildren, whom his life centered around.  He will be remembered as a hardworking man with a big heart that enjoyed keeping life fun by playing jokes on everyone.  He will be deeply missed.
He is preceded in death by his parents, Manual and Mathilda; mother and father in-law Orlyn and Irene Slinde, son in-law, John Brabec; siblings, Manual “Lupe” Abrego, Sarah Berara, and a brother in infancy, Martin.
Those left to carry on his legacy include his wife of 48 years, Joyce; children, Joe (Kim) Abrego of Albert Lea, Jeremy (Shellie) Abrego of Benson, MN, and Jackie Brabec (special friend, Dave Farness) of Albert Lea; grandchildren, Allison, Trevor, Logan, Trenton, Rya, Jarrett, Jena (fiancé, Adam Stenzel), Jasmine (special friend, Chris Seul); great-grandchildren, Evalys and Aliyeh; siblings, Phyllis (Joe) Talamantes of Albert Lea, Kathy (Frank) Diaz of Wells, MN, Margaret Abrego of Irvine, TX, Angel Abrego of Mcallen, TX, Mariane (Lyle) Smith of Springfield, MO, Tina Ruiz of Mankato, MN, and his twin sister Josephine (David) Olivo of Blue Earth, MN; brother in-law Jon Slinde of Fairmont, MN, sister in-laws Ardus Nimz of Albert Lea, Cleone (Jim) Ashley of St. Cloud, MN, Candice (Ed) Courtney of Portage, MI, Kate (Jack) Willis of Ely, MN, Ivy (Chuck) Jerich of Winton, MN, and Barb Prudoehl of Edina, MN.
At the family’s request please feel free to come dressed in your best Vikings apparel.