Age 86, of O'Fallon, Ill. passed away Thursday evening. Born to Joseph and Christine (nee George) Louis in O'Fallon, Ill., Joseph served in the US Army Air Corps from 1942 to 1945. He farmed for most of his life in the O'Fallon area and married Emma T. Bertram, nee Pellegrini, in 1963. He belonged to the St. Clair County Farm Bureau and was a lifelong member of St. Clare Catholic Church.

Joseph was preceded in death by his parents, wife Emma, brothers Albert and Edward, and sister Loretta Mertz.

He is survived by his stepson Gerald Bertram of O'Fallon; his granddaughter Bree (James) Murray of Littleton, Colo.; grandson Bret (Joni) Bertram of Mt. Vernon, Ohio; sisters Mrs. Paul (Lorene) Feder of Lebanon, Ill. and Mrs. Lucille (Lee) Rasp of O'Fallon, Ill.; and brother-in-law Marvin Mertz.

Memorials may be made to the National Kidney Foundation of Illinois, 215 W. Illinois, Suite 1C, Chicago, Ill. 60610.

Visitation: Friends may call from 4:00 – 8:00 pm, Monday, June 11, 2007 at Wolfersberger Funeral Home, O'Fallon, Ill.

Funeral Service: Procession will depart the funeral home 9:45 a.m. Tuesday, June 12, 2007 for a 10:00 a.m. Mass of Christian Burial at St. Clare Catholic Church with Reverend James Deiters presiding. Burial will be in Lake View Memorial Gardens, Fairview Heights, Ill.