Joseph J Sweeney

Joseph J. Sweeney, 93, of La Crosse passed away peacefully March 19, 2014 at Bethany St. Joseph Care Center with family by his side.

Joseph Joe Sweeney was born in La Crosse on September 16, 1920, to Joseph and Julia (Adamietz) Sweeney. Joe worked hard to earn enough money to attend Aquinas High School and graduated in 1938. After attending WWTC, Joe and his buddies enlisted in the Navy on March 4, 1940. He arrived at Pearl Harbor in June of 1940 where he was stationed on the USS Whitney. On December 7, 1941, Joe survived the bombing of Pearl Harbor and continued to serve his country primarily in the South Pacific, retiring as a Chief Petty Officer in 1946. Joe married Irene Howard on March 12, 1946. He was employed at Northern Engraving and also Randall Graw and retired in 1985. Joe enjoyed good times with Irene at their cabin on Lake Eau Claire. His Catholic faith was very important to him and Joe was active in the Blessed Sacrament parish community. He always looked forward to his Wednesday morning breakfast group. Joe loved playing golf and watching the Packers. He also enjoyed traveling, especially his last trip to Hawaii in 2012 with the Wisconsin Pearl Harbor Survivors. Joe was preceded in death by his wife, Irene; his parents; two brothers, Leo and Quentin Sweeney; brothers-in-law, Bill Tyler, Jim Corbett and Michael Howard; and sisters-in-law, Phyllis Sweeney and Mary Ellen Howard. He is survived by brothers, Vincent Sweeney and Jerome Pat (Marilyn) Sweeney; sisters, Clara Tyler and Theresa Corbett; brother-in-law, John (Judy) Howard; sisters-in-law, Sr. Katherine Howard, OSB, and Sue Howard; and many nieces and nephews. Special thanks to the staff at Bethany St. Joseph Care Center for their wonderful care and family support. We will miss Joe's great laugh, contagious smile, twinkle in his eye and firm handshake. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:30 a.m., Saturday, March 22thndth, at Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church, 130 Losey Blvd. So., La Crosse. Rev. Peter Raj and Msgr. Robert Hundt will officiate. Entombment, with military honors, will follow in St. Francis of Assisi Mausoleum in the Catholic Cemetery. Family and friends may call at the church on Saturday from 9:00 a.m. until the time of service. Memorials may be directed to Blessed Sacrement Parish.