Obituary of Emil Habesch

Emil M. 'Joe' Habesch Sr. RexfordEmil M. Joe Habesch Sr., 93, died at home on Thursday, Febru- ary 28, 2013, his family at his side. Joe was born in Sao Paulo, Brazil, the son of the late Emil and Elizabeth (Freidrich) Habesch. He was married for 57 years to Luella M. (Craig) Habesch until her passing on April 25, 1998. His family immi- grated to the United States when he was 8 years old and at- tended school in NYC. After high school, Joe enlisted in the peacetime Army in 1938, at age 19. He was stationed in Platts- burgh where he met Luella and they were married in Schuyler Falls December 9, 1940. During WWII he was in the action in North Africa and was wounded earning him a Purple Heart in the Battle of Beja, Tunisia. At discharge he had attained the rank of staff sergeant. He worked for Ward's Lumber in Jay, NY; and then after moving to Schenectady he worked for General Electric in Building 18 and then in 1950 he opened his own company, Rexford Lum- ber, until 1999. Joe was also a Shaklee supervisor from 1972 to 2013. Joe and Luella spon- sored Fresh Air kids through the Schenectady Gazette as well as being foster parents through Saratoga County. Joe was an active member of the Rexford Methodist Church, the Disabled American Veter- ans and the National Purple Heart Hall of Honor in New Windsor, NY, the National WW II Memorial in Washing- ton, DC and the Military Order of the Purple Heart. He earned certification with the US Pow- er Squadrons and was a former member of the Schenectady Yacht Club. In addition to his wife Luella, Joe was predeceased by his sis- ter, Irma and brother, Silvio. He is survived by his children, Alice Williams (CB Joe) of Wil- mington, DE, Emil Joe Ha- besch Jr. (Marie) of Malta, NY, Elizabeth Bettie Kotzak (Lennie) of Schenectady, Irma Allen (Gilbert) of Niskayuna, Jeanne Lowe of Schenectady, and Christine Tina Park (Daniel) of Mechanicville; brother-in-law, Donald Craig (Lois) of Broadalbin; sister-in-law, Leona Craig of Sparks, NV. 24 grandchildren, 28 great-grandchildren, four great great-grandchildren and many nieces and nephews also sur- vive Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. on Tuesday, March 5 from the Glenville Funeral Home, 9 Glenridge Rd., East Glenville. Relatives and friends are invited to calling hours from 5 to 7 p.m. at the funeral home on Monday, March 4. A graveside service will be held with military honors on Thurs- day, March 7 at the Fairview Cemetery in Ausable Forks, NY. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions in Joe's name are requested to be made to the Salvation Army, 222 Lafayette St., Schenectady 12305. www.glenvillefuneralho- me.com