Eugene "Gene" Joosten, 85, Rudolph, a former owner of the Rudolph IGA and Rudolph village president, died Thursday, Dec. 29, 2011, from complications of Alzheimer's disease.
A funeral service will be held at 1 p.m. Tuesday at St. Philip the Apostle Catholic Church in Rudolph.
Visitation will be at the church from 10:30 a.m. Tuesday until the service.
Memorials have been established with the Park Place Adult Day Care Center in Wisconsin Rapids and the Alzheimer's Association.
Higgins Funeral Home in Wisconsin Rapids assisted the family.
Mr. Joosten was born Oct. 25, 1926, in Rudolph, a son of the late Martin and Anna (Stelzer) Joosten. He graduated from Rudolph High School.
He went to work at Consolidated Papers Inc. until he was called to serve two years in the U.S. Army stationed in the Philippine Islands.
After his discharge from the military, he and his sister bought the Rudolph Grocery Store, which later became the Rudoph IGA. He remained owner of the store for 42 years, retiring in 1988.
He was a member of the Rudolph Village Board for 34 years, with 28 years as president; a Wood County Board member for six years; manager of parish cemeteries for 51 years; a charter member of the Rudolph Volunteer Fire Department; and lifetime member of Elmer Blonien Post 485 American Legion. He also served on the Board of Directors at Bull's Eye Credit Union and Farmers & Merchants Bank in Rudolph.
He was married to Mary Ann Budzinski on Oct. 8, 1949, at St. Philomena Church in Rudolph.
Survivors include three daughters, Susan (Wayne) Eistentraut, Julie DaWalt and Melani Sorenson; three sons, William (Cynthia), Todd (Toni) and Aaron Joosten; one sister, Dorothy Majinski, Colton, Calif.; three brothers, Melvin and Donald, both of Wisconsin Rapids, and Jesse (Marge), Rudolph; his mother-in-law, Madlin Budzinski, Wisconsin Rapids; 14 grandchildren; and four great-granddaughters.
He was also preceded in death by two brothers, Ray and Warren.