Funeral services for Joseph Mary Abrego will be at 10:30 a.m. Monday at the St. Theodore Catholic Church. The Rev. Russell Scepaniak will officiate. Visitation will take place from 3 to 5 p.m. Sunday at Bonnerup Funeral chapel in Albert Lea, and again one hour prior to the funeral service at the church. Interment will take place at St. Theodore Catholic Cemetery.

Joseph passed away on Wednesday, Sept. 14, 2016, at Thorne Crest Senior Living Community in Albert Lea. He was 66.

Joseph “Joe” Mary Abrego was born on Nov. 10, 1949, in Hayward to Manual and Mathilda (Garcia) Abrego. He was a lifetime resident of the Albert Lea area. On Nov. 18, 1967, Joe was united in marriage to Joyce (Slinde) in Bricelyn. To this union, three children were born. Joe and his family were members of St. Theodore Catholic Church.

Joe worked at Universal Cooperative and then later Streater, where he worked at a press. He retired from Streaters in 2014. He was a member of the steelworkers Union and the carpenters union; always being a “union man.” Aside from work, Joe enjoyed fishing, going to garage sales and cheering on his Minnesota Vikings and Twins. His family was most important to him, especially his grandchildren, whom his life centered around. He will be remembered as a hardworking man with a big heart who enjoyed keeping life fun by playing jokes on everyone. He will be deeply missed.

He is preceded in death by his parents Manual and Mathilda; mother and father in-law Orlyn and Irene Slinde; son in-law, John Brabec; siblings Manual “Lupe” Abrego, Sarah Berara and a brother in infancy, Martin.

Those left to carry on his legacy include his wife of 48 years, Joyce; children Joe (Kim) Abrego of Albert Lea, Jeremy (Shellie) Abrego of Benson and Jackie Brabec (special friend, Dave Farness) of Albert Lea; grandchildren Allison, Trevor, Logan, Trenton, Rya, Jarrett, Jena (fiance, Adam Stenzel) and Jasmine (special friend, Chris Seul); great-grandchildren Evalys and Aliyeh; siblings Phyllis (Joe) Talamantes of Albert Lea, Kathy (Frank) Diaz of Wells, Margaret Abrego of Irvine, Texas, Angel Abrego of Mcallen, Texas, Mariane (Lyle) Smith of Springfield, Missouri, Tina Ruiz of Mankato and his twin sister, Josephine (David) Olivo of Blue Earth; brother in-law, Jon Slinde of Fairmont; sister in-laws Ardus Nimz of Albert Lea, Cleone (Jim) Ashley of St. Cloud, Candice (Ed) Courtney of Portage, Michigan, Kate (Jack) Willis of Ely, Ivy (Chuck) Jerich of Winton and Barb Prudoehl of Edina.

At the family’s request, please feel free to come dressed in your best Vikings apparel.