HOLBROOK -- Joseph Walter Stagemeyer, 70, died Thursday (Aug. 16, 2007), at Phelps Memorial Hospital in Holdrege.

He was born Oct. 19, 1936, to Fred W. and Mary (Martin) Stagemeyer in Gosper County.

He was baptized at St. Matthew Lutheran Church of rural Holbrook Nov. 15, 1936. He attended St. Matthew Parochial School in Holbrook and then attended Holbrook High School, graduating in 1955.

On June 20, 1957, he married Elaine Fetters at First Baptist Church in Holbrook. They made their home in Holbrook. He worked for the Furnas County Department of Roads operating heavy equipment for 16 years. He then worked for Adams Construction of Arapahoe as a heavy equipment operator for 28 years, retiring in 2001.

He moved to the Beaver City Manor in Beaver City in 2006.

He was preceded in death by his parents; three sisters, Gladys Beauchamp, Doris Mai and Alice Niemeier; and a son-in-law, Jim Brooks.

Survivors include his wife, Elaine Stagemeyer of Holbrook; three daughters, Christine and husband, Joe Cooney of Clay Center, Cynthia and husband, Tom McNeil of Kearney and Kathy and husband, Stave Rauscher of Lincoln; a brother, Harold and wife, Ethel Stagemeyer of Beaver City; two sisters, Lucille Story of Cozad and Velma Foster of Stamford; and seven grandchildren.

Funeral services will be Monday, 10:30 a.m., at the First Baptist Church in Holbrook with the Rev. Dale Whitson officiating. Burial will be at the Holbrook Cemetery.

Viewing and visitation will be Saturday and Sunday, 1-8 p.m., at Wenburg Funeral Home in Arapahoe and Monday prior to the services at the church.

Condolences and personal reflections can be left at wwwl.wenburgfuneralhome.com

Wenburg Funeral Home of Arapahoe is in charge of arrangements.