Joseph Porter, 94, Oconto Falls, died early Monday morning, May 25, 2015, following a short stay at Sharpe Care. He was born April 8, 1921, in Green Bay.
Joseph attended grade and high schools in Oconto Falls and then State Teacher’s College in Oshkosh. On Sept. 22, 1941, he married Rachel Carroll at St. Anthony Catholic Church in Oconto Falls, and they were married for 67 years.
Joseph managed floor covering departments for Montgomery Ward in Green Bay and Marquette, Michigan. He served in the U.S. Army M7 tanks division as sergeant on Luzon, Philippines, for over two years. After his discharge, he worked as a funeral director and embalming apprentice at Flatley Funeral Home in Oconto Falls. In 1949, he started Porter Floor Covering in Oconto Falls. Over the years a store was added in Marinette, and he did contract floor covering and drapery work all over Wisconsin and Michigan. After 37 years the business was sold in 1986, and the couple built a home on White Potato Lake. In 2003 the couple sold their lake home and moved to Oconto Falls.
Following the death of his wife, he made his home at Sheridan Estates. Joe served 15 years on the Oconto Falls School Board, was president of the Oconto Falls-Gillett Rotary, vice president of Oconto Falls Kiwanis, secretary of the Oconto Falls Businessmen’s Association, as well as held membership in the VFW, Knights of Columbus and American Legion.
Joe was an avid golfer and received a hole-in-one trophy in 1996 from Sundown Golf Course, where he was a member of the Silver Swingers Men’s League for 19 years. Joe and Rach were also avid downhill skiers.
Survivors are his two daughters, Judy Porter, Shawano, and Linda (Kim) Henne, Oconto Falls; one son, Robert (friend Adryanna) Porter, Sedona, Arizona; four grandsons, Joseph “JT” and Paul Bruett, Clay and Chase Rost; four great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Rachel, on June 12, 2009.
Visitation with the urn present will be held from 9-11 a.m. Saturday, May 30, at Jones Funeral Service in Oconto Falls. Burial will follow in St. Anthony Cemetery, Oconto Falls.
In lieu of other expressions of sympathy, memorials may be made to the Joseph and Rachel Porter Memorial Scholarship,123 Birch Ave., Oconto Falls, WI 54154.
