Kleiboeker Family Tree - Person Sheet
Kleiboeker Family Tree - Person Sheet
NameJoe Smialek 
Death15 Mar 2007, Mount Vernon MO
Birth15 Jul 1928, Detroit, Michigan
Burial19 Mar 2007, Trinity Cem, Freistatt, Lawrence Co, MO
Spouses
Notes for Joe Smialek
Joseph Edward Smialek - Mt. Vernon was born on July 15, 1928, in Detroit Mich., to Joseph Ronan Smialek and Victoria Wozney, both immigrants from Poland. Joe passed away at 11:5 a.m. Thursday, March 15, 2007, in the Missouri Veterans’ Home/ Mt. Vernon.
He served in the United States Navy during the final years of WWII as a storekeeper on USS Caelum (AK-106), a supply ship home ported in the Pacific. Joe joined the service when he was 17 years old, with his father’s permission. After leaving military service after the end of the war, he returned to Detroit, where he married Edith Florence Payne, whom he had met in Seattle, and raised three sons. He worked as a firefighter for Boeing Aircraft and the Strategic Air Command during the development of the B-49 and B-52 bombers in Moses Lake, Wash., and also worked for the U.S. Air Force in St. Peterson, Fla,; and Lowry, AFB in Aurora, Colo. He was an over-the-road-truck driver for Safeway from around 1961 until his stroke in 1976, which ended his 30-year active association with the Teamsters Union. His whole life had revolved around being on the open road in his “18-wheeler.”
In 1978, he and his wife, Aletha Fay (Kleiboeker) moved to Bennett, Colo., with his son, Colin, and Aletha’s daughters, Donna and Kristen, where they started their new life together. While in Bennett, being close to his son, Dennis, and family Joe thoroughly enjoyed being a Grandpa to Lyle, Teresa and Doug. In 1983, Joseph and Aletha moved to Mt. Vernon, where they have lived since. In 2000, his youngest grandson, Kody, came along and was a constant delight to his grandpa at the veterans’ home, when Kody came to visit. Although not close in miles to his other grandchildren, Davey and Missy, they were always close to his heart and in his thoughts.
Joe was preceded in death by his parents, his three sisters, his first wife, Edith Florence Payne, his granddaughter Teresa Louise, his grandson, Daniel, and only nephew, Richard Harris.
He is survived by his wife, Aletha; three sons, Dennis and his wife, Beth, of Bennett, Colo., David and his wife, Connie, of Commerce City, Colo., and Colin and his wife, Barbara, of Columbia; his two daughters, Donna Frerichs and her husband, Wayne, of Brighton, Colo., and Kristen Preud’homme and her husband, Jean Yves, of Blue Springs; eight grandchildren, 11 great-grandchildren; and a host of family and friends.
He will always be remembered for his smile and quick humor, as Joe of “Smiley” never met a stranger. Anyone that ever stopped by would remember that they were welcome to a “fresh” pot of coffee and that was always ready. Members of his family recall that he always liked to have large family gatherings, especially during holidays, and everyone was always welcome to join in with him.
Funeral services, under the direction of Fossett-Mosher Funeral Home, Mt. Vernon, were at Trinity Lutheran Church in Freistatt, where Joe was a member, on Monday, March 19, with the Rev. Gary Griffin officiating. He was interred at Trinity’s cemetery, with full military honors.
Memorials may be made to the Trinity Lutheran Church radio broadcast, in care of the funeral home.
He served in the United States Navy during the final years of WWII as a storekeeper on USS Caelum (AK-106), a supply ship home ported in the Pacific. Joe joined the service when he was 17 years old, with his father’s permission. After leaving military service after the end of the war, he returned to Detroit, where he married Edith Florence Payne, whom he had met in Seattle, and raised three sons. He worked as a firefighter for Boeing Aircraft and the Strategic Air Command during the development of the B-49 and B-52 bombers in Moses Lake, Wash., and also worked for the U.S. Air Force in St. Peterson, Fla,; and Lowry, AFB in Aurora, Colo. He was an over-the-road-truck driver for Safeway from around 1961 until his stroke in 1976, which ended his 30-year active association with the Teamsters Union. His whole life had revolved around being on the open road in his “18-wheeler.”
In 1978, he and his wife, Aletha Fay (Kleiboeker) moved to Bennett, Colo., with his son, Colin, and Aletha’s daughters, Donna and Kristen, where they started their new life together. While in Bennett, being close to his son, Dennis, and family Joe thoroughly enjoyed being a Grandpa to Lyle, Teresa and Doug. In 1983, Joseph and Aletha moved to Mt. Vernon, where they have lived since. In 2000, his youngest grandson, Kody, came along and was a constant delight to his grandpa at the veterans’ home, when Kody came to visit. Although not close in miles to his other grandchildren, Davey and Missy, they were always close to his heart and in his thoughts.
Joe was preceded in death by his parents, his three sisters, his first wife, Edith Florence Payne, his granddaughter Teresa Louise, his grandson, Daniel, and only nephew, Richard Harris.
He is survived by his wife, Aletha; three sons, Dennis and his wife, Beth, of Bennett, Colo., David and his wife, Connie, of Commerce City, Colo., and Colin and his wife, Barbara, of Columbia; his two daughters, Donna Frerichs and her husband, Wayne, of Brighton, Colo., and Kristen Preud’homme and her husband, Jean Yves, of Blue Springs; eight grandchildren, 11 great-grandchildren; and a host of family and friends.
He will always be remembered for his smile and quick humor, as Joe of “Smiley” never met a stranger. Anyone that ever stopped by would remember that they were welcome to a “fresh” pot of coffee and that was always ready. Members of his family recall that he always liked to have large family gatherings, especially during holidays, and everyone was always welcome to join in with him.
Funeral services, under the direction of Fossett-Mosher Funeral Home, Mt. Vernon, were at Trinity Lutheran Church in Freistatt, where Joe was a member, on Monday, March 19, with the Rev. Gary Griffin officiating. He was interred at Trinity’s cemetery, with full military honors.
Memorials may be made to the Trinity Lutheran Church radio broadcast, in care of the funeral home.