Joseph was born July 24, 1940 in Maple City the son of Joseph and Olive (Pease) Flaska Sr.

On April 20, 1963 at Holy Rosary Church in Isadore he married Leona (Miller) Flaska who survives.

Joe was born in the upstairs of the building that many locals knew as Gabe’s Country Market. Joe Sr. made and laid the original concrete blocks for the building. He was a founding member of the Cedar Hilltoppers snowmobile club, loved Polka and Country Western music and always could be found watching a great western movie.

Joe spent a lifetime working and never really knew how to retire. For many years he drove semi-truck for Purvis Brothers and when Frank & Rich Purvis sold to Jacklin Steel; Joe continued driving for them. Joe retired from Jacklin Steel after working the last several years in the welding shop as the main layout man.

He spent 23 years driving semi-truck, welding and tending to his family cherry farm of which he took over from his uncle Rudolph Flaska. Joe would put in a full day working at Jacklin Steel and then spend his nights tending to the cherry orchard.

Joe could fix anything or create any tool needed for the farm. Friends would bring stuff for Joe to weld or repair; he built by hand his cherry farm’s Hi Lo, wood splitter, an orchard fan used to deflect frost and many items to keep his farm and home running.

He created the cross that sits atop the Maple City Community Church, was part of the fabrication team that fabricated the Sara Lee record setting cherry pie pan. Grandpa Joe even transformed a riding lawn mower into a tractor for his youngest granddaughter for her to drive around the farm. She still drives that tractor around the farm today. Grandpa Joe however had to re-paint the tractor and purchased the John Deere green decals upon the request of his granddaughter. He was the best.

Joe was always willing and available to help out his fellow farmers and friends. He could be found fixing or tinkering with something in his shop. Joe was a man of deep faith and assisted Holy Rosary Church with the annual chicken dinners for many years. Where Joe was Leona wasn’t far behind. He deeply loved his family and his grandchildren meant the world to him. The family expresses their deepest thanks to the staff of Munson Medical Center, Mary Freebed and Cowell Family Cancer Center for their compassion and care of our dearest Joe.

Joe is survived by his loving wife of 60 years, Leona; three children, Yvonne (Randy) Weber, Roberta (Scott) Tarker, Todd Flaska; three siblings, Geraldine Galla, William (Betty) Flaska, Gary (Janet) Flaska; and six grandchildren, Amber Weber, Alyssa (Kyle Schroeder) Weber, Andrew (Reagan Middleton) Weber, Abigail Weber, Ayspen Tarker, Ciara Tarker and his beloved fur buddy, Luna.

He was preceded in death by his parents, a brother-in-law, Donald Galla; and a brother in infancy, Joe Flaska.

Visitation and viewing will be held from 5 to 8 p.m. on Friday, December 22 with the Rosary to be prayed at 7 p.m. at the Holy Rosary Church of Cedar. The mass will be held at 11 a.m. on Saturday, December 23 with the family greeting friends at 10 a.m. also at the church. Father Donald Libby will serve as celebrant.

After the mass, cremation will be conducted and urn burial will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, December 30 at 11:00 at Mt. Calvary Cemetery. Deacon Douglas Wigton will officiate.

Memorials may be directed to Cedar Fire and Rescue Association, PO Box 74, Cedar, MI 49621; Holy Rosary Church, 6982 S. Schomberg Road, Cedar, MI 49621 and/or Cowell Family Cancer Center, 217 S. Madison Street, Traverse City, MI 49684.

Please share condolences with the family at www.martinson.info Arrangements are with the Martinson Funeral Home and Cremation Services of Leelanau.