Joseph Stanley Mathias, 88, of Byron, passed away Saturday, August 24, 2024, at The Mayo Clinic, St. Marys campus.

Joe was born December 8, 1935 in Wabasha, MN to Louis and Margaret (Koemel) Mathias. He attended Wabasha schools and then proudly served in the US Army. On October 19, 1963, Joe married Mary Jo Traufler in Chatfield, MN. Joe and Mary Jo moved to Byron in 1967, when he went to work for the Byron school district. Joe worked as a custodian for Byron schools from 1967 until he retired in 1997. In his spare time, he loved to till and work in his vegetable and flower gardens, grill out on his deck and watch old western and wrestling tv shows. Joe and Mary Jo also loved to travel, especially going to South Padre Island, TX. Joe was a member of Christ the King Catholic Church and an active member of the Knights of Columbus. Above all, Joe loved spending time with his family.

He is survived by his loving wife of almost 61 years, Mary Jo; children, John (Dee) of Byron, MN, Mark (Tammy) of Mantorville, MN, Rose (Kevin) Smith of Hayfield, MN, Matthew of Rochester, MN, Luke (Judy) of Byron, MN and Peter of Byron, MN; ten grandchildren, Emilia (Danny) Kalscheur, Erika (Jake) Turcotte, Samantha (Kyle) Wakefield, Olivia Mathias, Ella Mathias, Marissa Becker, Sabrina Smith, Charles Smith, Jillian Mathias, and Kyleigh Smith and twelve great-grandchildren, Maiia and Eliza Kalscheur, Harper Mathias, Grant Turcotte, Hayes Wakefield, Wyatt and Kennedy Reller, Xavier and Raelynn Smith, Maddox Petersen, Hazel and Aspen Chomjak; sister, Bea Gessner of Rochester, MN ; brother, Gerald (Ruth) Mathias of Wabasha, MN, and numerous nieces and nephews. Joe was preceded in death by eight siblings and by his parents.

A Mass of Christian burial will be held 11:00 a.m. Thursday, August 29, 2024 at Christ the King Catholic Church, 202 4 ^th St. NW, Byron, MN 55920. Visitation will be held from 10:00 a.m. until time of Mass. Burial will be at the Minnesota State Veterans Cemetery, Preston, MN.