Joseph A. Kapusta, of Antigo, passed away Tuesday, Sept. 27, 2016, surrounded by loving family members. He was 87 years old, born on April 29, 1929, to Urban and Frances (Surovcak) Kapusta in Langlade County. He graduated from Antigo High School in 1947, after which he became a proud Antigo potato grower for more than 40 years. Sixty-five years ago, this past January, Joe married the love of his life, Beverly Beitel; together, they raised two loving sons.
During his early farming years, Joe also served as a member of the Wisconsin National Guard. In the early 1960s, he was a pioneer in the establishment of snowmobiling as a popular wintertime activity including being a founding member of Antigo Sno-Drifters Snowmobile Club, serving on the Wisconsin Snowmobile Association, and being selected as a member of the Governor’s Snowmobile Council. Continuing his public service, Joe was elected numerous times as city alderman for the Antigo Common Council, serving more than a dozen years to present. Joe was an usher for SS. Mary & Hyacinth Catholic Church for many years and had served on the parish council.
Survivors include wife Beverly (Beitel); two sons, Joseph (Jocelyn Fritsch) of St. Louis Park, Minnesota, and Thomas (Peggy) Kapusta of Sioux Falls, S.D.; granddaughter Karen (David) Kapusta-Pofahl; great-granddaughter Samantha Kapusta-Pofahl; sister Marian Kapusta of Brainerd, Minnesota; brother August (Kay) Kapusta of Antigo; sister-in-law Barbara (James) Horton of Antigo; and multiple nieces and nephews.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by brother James Kapusta and a brother who died at birth; sisters-in-law Joan Kapusta of Antigo and June Kullander of Des Moines, Iowa; and brother-in-law Ralph Kullander of Des Moines, Iowa.
Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11 a.m. on Friday, Sept. 30, at SS. Mary & Hyacinth Catholic Church with Rev. David Schmidt officiating. Interment follows at Queen of Peace Cemetery.