Joseph Edward Deer II (Joe Buck), of Keshena, 82, passed away peacefully Friday, Feb. 21, 2020, at a Shawano hospital. He was born April 8, 1937, to Joseph Deer and Constance Deer. Joe graduated from Shawano High School, class of 1955.
Joe joined the United States Army in 1956, serving at Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri. Joe attended the National Hardwood Lumber Grading School and graduated with the class of 1962, in Memphis, Tennesee. Joe was renowned for his ability to species grade lumber and was often consulted to decide for fellow graders what a particular species was. Joe worked most of his life for Sorenson Lumber in Bonduel and finished his grading career with InterLink lumber in Bonduel at the age of 81, when his health would not allow him to continue.
He is survived by his wife of 43 years, Vicky (Kurowski)Deer; his five children, Joseph E. Deer III (Amy), Leesah Deer, Joe Little Deer (Nicole), Alexander Deer (Angie) and Theresa Deer-Payne (Jason); his siblings, Ada Deer, Ferial Deer Skye, Connie Deer, Carol Jones, and sister in-law, Ginni Deer; Joe’s sister and brother in-laws on Vicky’s side; Theresa Smith (Bob), Eddie Kurowski (Linda), Paul Kurowski (Sandy), George Kurowski (Cindy), Peter Kurowski (Jan), Andrew Kurowski (Lori), Stanley Kurowski (Vicky) amd Robert Reetz; 15 grandchildren and three great-grandchildren; his lifetime friends, Marvin Popp (Judy) and Joe Mosier; and numerous cousins, nieces and nephews.
Joe was preceded in death by his parents; younger brother, Robert Deer; mother-in-law, Anna Kurowski; father-in-law Ed Kurowski; brother-in-law, Alex Kurowski; aunts and uncles; and special cousin, Earl Wescott.
To describe Big Joe would be to say he was kind, generous, strong, and empathetic. He was a man of strong conviction, particularly when it came to his faith in God. It was this faith that led Joe to baptize two of the grandchildren himself and push to have three more of them baptized at the last family gathering by his brother-in law, Pastor Pete.
If you were to ask Joe about his favorite things in life, he would say he loved his children, grandchildren, siblings, hunting, fishing, rubbing alcohol (the cure for everything), duct tape, and his wife, Vicky.
Family and friends may gather for a celebration of Joe’s life Friday, March 6 at Newcomer Funeral Home for visitation from 3-5 p.m. Funeral service will follow with the Rev. Dr. Peter Kurowski officiating. Military rites will follow. Family and friends are invited to a meal at Rock Garden’s supper club following the service.
The family would like to express their gratitude and thank the wonderful staff who took such loving care of Joe at Shawano Health Services, Shawano ThedaCare, and The Menominee Tribal Clinic. Special thank you to Dr. Kevin Culhane for not only his wonderful care of Joe for many years, also his compassion and understanding for Joe’s complicated end-of-life struggles.
Joseph E. Deer II
