Joseph J. Otremba

Joseph Otremba, 66 year old resident of Bowlus, MN died Saturday, November 22 at the St. Benedict Center in Sherburne County. Funeral services will be held Friday, November 28 at 1:00 P.M. at the Emblom-Brenny Funeral Service in Little Falls, MN 900 1st Street SE. Friends may gather from 11:00 A.M. until the hour of service on Friday at the funeral home. Joseph J. Otremba was born December 18, 1941 at St. Gabriel's Hospital in Little Falls, MN he grew up on 9th Street NE with his 9 siblings and his parents Joseph and Marion (Lintner) Otremba. Life was centered around family, friends (especially the ball team "The 9th Street Bulldogs") and plain old fashioned fun. Joe married Anita Green and they had 43 years and 8 months together. They lived in Bowlus, MN since 1970 and had three beautiful daughters. In his teen years Joe worked at the bowling alley "setting pins' and later at Super Valu for Al Gruber and Art Norr. He then worked for Tri-City Paving from the middle 1960's until 1978 when he bought a local garbage route from his brother. He later sold it and bought the Little Falls commercial garbage route also from his brother Allan. Joe enjoyed being in business for 25 years and being his own boss. He was a hard worker and a very responsible person to do business with and a fair and generous boss. In 2002, he decided it was time to enjoy a slower pace so the business was sold and the next six years he enjoyed many days at his "ranch". He enjoyed building things and was always thinking up some "invention". He was a warm, likeable person who enjoyed people and always had time to stop and visit. His greatest hope was to "win the lottery" He never gave up and was still trying to fill out that winning ticket the last week of his life. Not for his personal gain but for his family. Joe loved his family and it was a family-joke how he wanted to take care of us. This past year while he battled cancer his doctors and others in the medical field seemed to be surprised at his cheerful, positive attitude and his concern for their well-being. As his favorite doctor Dr. David Furda, described him..."He was a unique individual who made an impression on all of them". The world needs more people like Joe. We will miss him so very much. Joe is survived by his loving wife, Anita (Green) Otremba of Bowlus, MN; daughters, Jill Marie Schyma and husband, Jeff, of Foley, MN, Heidi Marie Rice and husband, Steve, of Rice, MN, Holly Marie Knapp and husband, Jesse, of Roswell, GA; granddaughters, McKenzie and Mariah Schyma and Hailey and Aryka Rice; brothers, Urban Otremba and wife, Carole, of Little Falls, MN, Allan Otremba and wife, Sheryl, of Grand Forks, ND; sisters, Marcelline Paycer of Little Falls, MN, JoAnn Kroll of Richfield, MN; sisters-in-law, Barbara Otremba of Little Falls, MN, Kathy Otremba of Roseville, CA and many other relatives and friends. He was preceded in death by his parents, Joseph and Marion Otremba; brothers, Lawrence, Clement, Marcellus and Romeus Otremba and a sister, Rita Reis. In lieu of flowers memorial preferred to the American Cancer Society. Arrangements are with the Emblom-Brenny Funeral Service, Inc. in Little Falls, MN. 1-320-632-4393. Joe is survived by his loving wife, of 43 years Anita (Green) Otremba of Bowlus, MN; daughters, Jill Marie Schyma and husband, Jeff, of Foley, MN, Heidi Marie Rice and husband, Steve, of Rice, MN, Holly Marie Knapp and husband, Jesse, of Roswell, GA; granddaughters, McKenzie and Mariah Schyma and Hailey and Aryka Rice; brothers, Urban Otremba and wife, Carole, of Little Falls, MN, Allan Otremba and wife, Sheryl, of Grandforks, ND; sisters, Marcelline Paycer of Little Falls, MN, JoAnn Kroll of Richfield, MN; sisters-in-law, Barbara Otremba of Little Falls, MN, Kathy Otremba of Roseville, CA and many other relatives and friends. He was preceded in death by his parents, Joseph and Marion Otremba; brothers, Lawrence, Clement, Marcellus and Romeus Otremba and a sister, Rita Reis.