Joe M. Branstetter

FuneralThursday February 16, 201211:00 amNew Harmony Christian ChurchVisitationWednesday February 15, 20124:00 pm to 7:00 pmMudd-Veach Funeral Home (Bowling Green) Joe M. Branstetter age 83 of Curryville passed away Monday, February 13, 2012 at the Tri-County Care Center in Vandalia. Funeral services will be held 11:00 a.m. Thursday, February 16, 2012 at the New Harmony Christian Church near Curryville with Pastor Dawn Marie Turner officiating. Burial will be in the New Harmony Cemetery with military graveside rites conducted by VFW Post 5553 and Missouri Military Honors. Visitation will be held Wednesday from 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. at the Mudd-Veach Funeral Home in Bowling Green. Mr. Branstetter was born February 15, 1928 in Curryville, the son of Harve Brooks and Mattie Mae Mitchell Branstetter. On October 30, 1948 he married Alma Yvonne Moore in Vandalia. She preceded him in death on February 1, 1997. He married Mary Frances (Frankie) Thomas on February 14, 1998 at New Harmony Christian Church. She survives. Also surviving are son Marion Branstetter and wife Jackie of Frankford; daughter Deborah Kraft and husband Allan of Curryville; “Son-in-love” David Mast and wife Joyce of Columbia; step-children Sharon Hasty and husband John of New London, Fred Young Jr. of Bowling Green Francis Young of Bowling Green; Evert Young of Griggsville, IL; grandchildren Brenda Foutes and husband Stephen of New Bloomfield, Brian Kraft and wife Lindsey of Mexico, Rachel Robb of Frankford, Jennifer Mast of Columbia, Laura Mast of Yardley, PA, Mark Mast and wife Lindsay of Fayetteville, AR; great grandchildren Lily and Sydney Foutes, Courtney and Josee Kraft, Abby, Lexi and Mara Robb and Walker Mast; brother Richard Branstetter of Bowling Green; sisters Mary Frances Mudd of Valley Park, Ruby Nolan of Marysville, CA, Patsy Grainge of Tulsa, OK and Shirley Tredway and husband Dayle of Louisiana. He was preceded in death by his parents, step-mother Annie Gordon Branstetter; daughter Brenda Jo; grandson Michael Mast; brothers John A., Bert, Elmer, Raymond and Kemmie; infant sister Rosetta and one other sister in infancy. He lived in rural Pike County all of his life where he was a grain and livestock farmer. Mr. Branstetter served in the United States Army in Korea from 1946 to 1948. He was a member of the New Harmony Christian (Disciples of Christ) Church where he had served as church secretary/treasurer for 40 years and served as Sunday School teacher, deacon, elder, and elder emeritus. Joe also served as secretary/treasurer of the New Harmony Cemetery Association for 45 years, was a 4-H Project Leader, served as a board member for 12 years on the Consolidated Electric Co-op Board, Pike County Mutual Insurance Board member for several years, ASC County Committee member for 35 years, was a member and office holder of The Missouri Farmers Association and was a volunteer for the Hope Center. Joe was a hard-working Christian man who lived his faith each day as a witness to his family, his church, his neighbors, his community, and to anyone he came in contact with - even to the end of his life as he was a witness to those who were caring for him. He will be remembered for his kind, compassionate, generous spirit - having a smile and a big hug for everyone he came in contact with - whether he knew them or not. Joe openly shared his pride in his family and his country. He loved his grandchildren and great-grandchildren and enjoyed spending time with them. Serving as pallbearers will be Brian Kraft, Neil Beatty, Melvin Fisher, Tony Dameron, Robert Gregory and J. C. Bufford. Memorials may be made to New Harmony Christian Church, New Harmony Cemetery or Relay for Life.