Joseph ‘Joe’ L. Gotvald, 94, Foley

April 11, 1921 - February 14, 2016

Joseph Gotvald peacefully passed away at his home on February 14, 2016. Memorial Mass will be 10:30 AM Wednesday, February 17, 2016 at St. John's Catholic Church, Foley. The Rev. Virgil Helmin will officiate. Burial will be in the Parish Cemetery.

Friends may call from 4 to 8 PM Tuesday at the Foley Funeral Home and 1 hour prior to services at the church. Parish Prayers will be held at 6 PM Tuesday evening.

Joseph Lewis Gotvald was born April 11, 1921 in rural Morrison County to Andy and Helen (Durkos) Gotvald. He grew up on a dairy farm in Hillman, MN. During the war, he worked at Boeing Aircraft, Seattle, WA building B-17 and B-22 bombers. He married Florence Lewandowski on September 17, 1945 at SS. Peter & Paul Catholic Church in Gilman. He returned to Minnesota to dairy farm and worked as a foreman at Crestliner Boatworks for 20 years, first working on aluminum fishing boards, then fiberglass boats. Joe enjoyed fishing, deer hunting, the stock market, politics and watching baseball. He was a member of St. John's Catholic Church.

He is survived by his wife, Florence of Foley; children: Gerard (Katrina) Gotvald of Huntsville, Alabama, Charlene (Mark) Thelen of Monticello, Duane (Jill) Gotvald of Gurley, Alabama, Mark (Christi) Gotvald of Pleasant Hill, CA, and Renell (Gary) Gochman of Huntington Beach, CA; 15 grandchildren; 16 great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents; brothers: John and George, sisters: Helen and Anna, daughter-in-law, Marie Lahr Gotvald.