Joseph Barabe passed away peacefully at home on August 3, 2023 after courageously battling cancer a second time at the age of 72. A lifelong resident of Mellen, WI until 2022, Joe was a local politician, historical writer, baseball enthusiast, novice fisherman, as well as a cardplaying trickster.
Joe had two major passions-leading the city of Mellen and history writing. A graduate of Mellen High School in 1969, he served in Vietnam following high school and after returning he attended Mount Senario College in Ladysmith, WI where he met his wife, Dolores. Joe dedicated his life as a civil servant, following a proud family tradition. Joe's father served as the mayor of Mellen, and he retired as one of the longest standing mayors in WI serving 33 years from 1986-2022 with a brief two year pause from 2001-2003. He was proud of his many accomplishments as mayor with the help of his trusty cousin Ken Kritz who served on the city council, building a new library and senior center, and town garage, adding a new housing development, and adding essential equipment such as firetrucks, ambulances, and police cars. Joe also dedicated himself to studying history and writing about Mellen, and there were only a few history books at the Mellen Library that he did not read. He was an accomplished writer, having several books published, with his two volume history celebrating the Mellen centennial in 1986 as his ultimate achievement, earning him a Wisconsin State Historical Society Award.
His is survived by his wife Dolores (Osceola), sister Cheryl (Lac du Flambeau), and three children, Allana (Joe) Clymer of Osceola, John (Sarah) Barabe of Darien, IL, and Olivia (Daniel) Louis of Denver, CO. He was also blessed with 9 grandchildren: Maya/Noah Clymer, Sam/Gabriel/Sophia/Amelia Barabe, and Henry/Finn/Piper Louis. He was preceded in death by his parents Robert and Florence Barabe, his brothers Bob and John Paul, and his favorite American Eskimo dog name Skippy. Everyone that knew Joe closely knew how much he loved his family, the city of Mellen, the Chicago Cubs, and occasionally bending the rules to win any card game he played. He was a caring and dedicated family man that will truly be missed by all those close to him.
Joe had two major passions-leading the city of Mellen and history writing. A graduate of Mellen High School in 1969, he served in Vietnam following high school and after returning he attended Mount Senario College in Ladysmith, WI where he met his wife, Dolores. Joe dedicated his life as a civil servant, following a proud family tradition. Joe's father served as the mayor of Mellen, and he retired as one of the longest standing mayors in WI serving 33 years from 1986-2022 with a brief two year pause from 2001-2003. He was proud of his many accomplishments as mayor with the help of his trusty cousin Ken Kritz who served on the city council, building a new library and senior center, and town garage, adding a new housing development, and adding essential equipment such as firetrucks, ambulances, and police cars. Joe also dedicated himself to studying history and writing about Mellen, and there were only a few history books at the Mellen Library that he did not read. He was an accomplished writer, having several books published, with his two volume history celebrating the Mellen centennial in 1986 as his ultimate achievement, earning him a Wisconsin State Historical Society Award.
His is survived by his wife Dolores (Osceola), sister Cheryl (Lac du Flambeau), and three children, Allana (Joe) Clymer of Osceola, John (Sarah) Barabe of Darien, IL, and Olivia (Daniel) Louis of Denver, CO. He was also blessed with 9 grandchildren: Maya/Noah Clymer, Sam/Gabriel/Sophia/Amelia Barabe, and Henry/Finn/Piper Louis. He was preceded in death by his parents Robert and Florence Barabe, his brothers Bob and John Paul, and his favorite American Eskimo dog name Skippy. Everyone that knew Joe closely knew how much he loved his family, the city of Mellen, the Chicago Cubs, and occasionally bending the rules to win any card game he played. He was a caring and dedicated family man that will truly be missed by all those close to him.
Joseph Barabe passed away peacefully at home on August 3, 2023 after courageously battling cancer a second time at the age of 72. A lifelong resident of Mellen, WI until 2022, Joe was a local politician, historical writer, baseball enthusiast, novice fisherman, as well as a cardplaying trickster.
Joe had two major passions-leading the city of Mellen and history writing. A graduate of Mellen High School in 1969, he served in Vietnam following high school and after returning he attended Mount Senario College in Ladysmith, WI where he met his wife, Dolores. Joe dedicated his life as a civil servant, following a proud family tradition. Joe's father served as the mayor of Mellen, and he retired as one of the longest standing mayors in WI serving 33 years from 1986-2022 with a brief two year pause from 2001-2003. He was proud of his many accomplishments as mayor with the help of his trusty cousin Ken Kritz who served on the city council, building a new library and senior center, and town garage, adding a new housing development, and adding essential equipment such as firetrucks, ambulances, and police cars. Joe also dedicated himself to studying history and writing about Mellen, and there were only a few history books at the Mellen Library that he did not read. He was an accomplished writer, having several books published, with his two volume history celebrating the Mellen centennial in 1986 as his ultimate achievement, earning him a Wisconsin State Historical Society Award.
His is survived by his wife Dolores (Osceola), sister Cheryl (Lac du Flambeau), and three children, Allana (Joe) Clymer of Osceola, John (Sarah) Barabe of Darien, IL, and Olivia (Daniel) Louis of Denver, CO. He was also blessed with 9 grandchildren: Maya/Noah Clymer, Sam/Gabriel/Sophia/Amelia Barabe, and Henry/Finn/Piper Louis. He was preceded in death by his parents Robert and Florence Barabe, his brothers Bob and John Paul, and his favorite American Eskimo dog name Skippy. Everyone that knew Joe closely knew how much he loved his family, the city of Mellen, the Chicago Cubs, and occasionally bending the rules to win any card game he played. He was a caring and dedicated family man that will truly be missed by all those close to him.
Joe had two major passions-leading the city of Mellen and history writing. A graduate of Mellen High School in 1969, he served in Vietnam following high school and after returning he attended Mount Senario College in Ladysmith, WI where he met his wife, Dolores. Joe dedicated his life as a civil servant, following a proud family tradition. Joe's father served as the mayor of Mellen, and he retired as one of the longest standing mayors in WI serving 33 years from 1986-2022 with a brief two year pause from 2001-2003. He was proud of his many accomplishments as mayor with the help of his trusty cousin Ken Kritz who served on the city council, building a new library and senior center, and town garage, adding a new housing development, and adding essential equipment such as firetrucks, ambulances, and police cars. Joe also dedicated himself to studying history and writing about Mellen, and there were only a few history books at the Mellen Library that he did not read. He was an accomplished writer, having several books published, with his two volume history celebrating the Mellen centennial in 1986 as his ultimate achievement, earning him a Wisconsin State Historical Society Award.
His is survived by his wife Dolores (Osceola), sister Cheryl (Lac du Flambeau), and three children, Allana (Joe) Clymer of Osceola, John (Sarah) Barabe of Darien, IL, and Olivia (Daniel) Louis of Denver, CO. He was also blessed with 9 grandchildren: Maya/Noah Clymer, Sam/Gabriel/Sophia/Amelia Barabe, and Henry/Finn/Piper Louis. He was preceded in death by his parents Robert and Florence Barabe, his brothers Bob and John Paul, and his favorite American Eskimo dog name Skippy. Everyone that knew Joe closely knew how much he loved his family, the city of Mellen, the Chicago Cubs, and occasionally bending the rules to win any card game he played. He was a caring and dedicated family man that will truly be missed by all those close to him.
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