Joseph "Joe" Blattenbauer, age 97, Mahnomen, MN, died Tuesday, June 26, 2007 at the Mahnomen Health Center Nursing Home.

Joseph Jacob Blattenbauer was born March 11, 1910 in Yankton, SD, the son of John and Katherine (Weber) Blattenbauer. As a young child, he moved with his family to Waubun, MN, where he grew up and attended school. After completing his school studies, Joe began working on the family farm. He also spent a few years working in the Civilian Conservation Corps camps during World War II. He later returned to the Waubun area to live farm with his parents. Following the death of his parents, Joe moved to live in the same farmyard with his brother and sister-in-law, Tony and Florentine, where they worked together. After the farm was sold in the late 1990's, Joe made his home at the Twin Valley Retirement Center for several years. In 2001, he moved into the Mahnomen Health Center Nursing Home where he has lived since.

Joe was a long time member of St. Joseph's Catholic Church in Beaulieu, MN and worshiped there whenever he was able. He truly loved farming and greatly enjoyed being outdoors in the woods. He also liked simply visiting with his neighbors and sharing stories. Joe had a special passion for animals and treasured each one of his cats and dogs over the years.

Joe is survived by two sisters-in-law; Mary Ann Blattenbauer and Florentine Blattenbauer; one brother-in-law, Arthur Spaeth, all of Mahnomen, and many nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents, six brothers, and two sisters.