Joe Hanfelder
Moro |
Joe Hanfelder, 82, passed away at 5:22 p.m. on Friday, February 23, 2024, at Alton Memorial Hospital. He was born on November 15, 1941, in South Roxana, the son of the late William Charles and Josephine (Gascho) Hanfelder. He met the former Judy Tuttle at the East Alton Dairy in 1961 and they married in 1963. They built a house from the ground up and lived there until 1976. They then moved to Moro and had ten acres where they raised chickens, cows, pigs, and rabbits. At one time, he had over five hundred rabbits and every week he took one hundred rabbits to the market. Survivors include three daughters and two sons in law: Michele and Dennis Johnson of Meadowbrook, Melissa and Richard Hosto of Edwardsville, Manda Jackson of Bethalto, six grandchildren: Dennis Johnson, Jr., Josephine Johnson, Adam Hosto, Allie Hosto, Nathan Rector, Noah Hanfelder, three sisters and a brother in law: Rita Sutton of South Roxana, Gladys Abernathy of East Alton, Phyllis and Dale Noble of Wood River, many nieces, nephews, and other extended family and friends.
Joe graduated from Roxana High School in 1959. He went to work at the East Alton Dairy and then went into business with Henry Hahnenkamp at Melhville Dairy in 1964. He also worked at Wonder Bread and was a 7Up distributor in South St. Louis. In 1978, he started Meadowbrook Dairy Store and later started Joe and Judy’s Food and Drink with the aid of his wife. He later went to work for Hilmes Distributing and later founded Riverbend Distributing and worked there until he retired. He was on the ground floor of developing IPSA – Independent Postal System of America. He was a member of the United Church of Christ. Joe loved fishing and gardening and he always had a big garden. He would always take a couple of five-gallon buckets full of tomatoes to give to folks who didn’t have a garden.
In addition to his parents and his wife, Joe was preceded in death by a grandson: William Johnson, four brothers: Kenneth Hanfelder, Arthur Hanfelder, Robert Hanfelder, Charles “Chuck” Hanfelder, five sisters: Helen Perry, Doris Stille, Margaret Hinkle, Alice Schuessler, and Kathryn Smith.
In celebration of his life, visitation will be from 9am until time of funeral service at 10:30am on Thursday, February 29, 2024, at Pitchford Funeral Home in Wood River. Pastor Debra Hoertel will officiate. Entombment will follow at Rose Lawn Memory Gardens in Bethalto.
Memorials are suggested to Fresenius Dialysis Center, 7 Professional Drive, Alton, Illinois, 62002.
Online guestbook available at www.pitchfordfuneralhome.com.
Pitchford Funeral Home
