Joseph "Joe" Barta

Joseph P. Barta, 88, of West Fargo, passed away Sunday, August 29, 2021, at Sanford Medical Center in Fargo. 

Husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather. Joe’s greatest joy was his wife and family and spending time with his children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. He was someone we all looked up to and are thankful to have shared his life.

Joseph Peter Barta was born April 25, 1933, at home on the family farm to Frank and Mary (Malecha) Barta of Lonsdale, Minn., the sixth of 11 children. After graduating high school, Joe was a truck driver until serving in the U.S. Army from 1953 to 1955. He married Joan Marie Vasko on June 18, 1955, and they moved to Minneapolis, where their five children were born. Joe worked in the grocery business and in 1967, opened Barta’s Fairway Foods in St. Peter, Minn. In 1969, they moved to West Fargo, N.D., where he worked as a field representative for Super Value. Joe’s last full-time job was with Quality Meats in West Fargo from 1978 until his retirement in 1998. After three months, he got restless and worked part time another 17 years at Pierce Company, NetCenter and Nine Dragons until his final retirement at age 83, making many new friends along the way.

Joe was a member of the Knights of Columbus and American Legion. He was on the chain gang of Bison football for 25 years and the Maple River Golf Course for more than 40 years. If he wasn’t at the golf course, he was enjoying reading, crossword puzzles, jigsaw puzzles and an occasional trip to the casino. He enjoyed traveling with Joan and made many trips to visit family and friends around the country. His last big trip was the Honor Flight to Washington, D.C., which was very special to him.

Joe always had a smile on his face and a mischievous twinkle in his eye. If someone needed help, he would go out of his way to make sure things got done quickly and the right way. He never complained or asked for anything for himself – he was a kind, generous and loving man.

He is survived by his wife, children Michael, Brooklyn, Conn.; Deborah (Edward) Tanner, Fargo; Lawrence (Debi Kumpf), Middleton, Wis.; Lynne (Jeffrey) Sajdak, Marcell, Minn.; and Kenneth, Fargo; grandchildren Kyle (Casara) Barta, Jason Weaver, Justin (Stephanie) Weaver, Heather (Paul) Truitt, Rebecca Tanner, Bradley (Sara) Slocum, Steven Slocum, Samantha Neumann, Olivia Sajdak, Courteney Sajdak, Jillian Sajdak; great-grandchildren Tyler, Nathan, Sara, Vincent, Jeffrey, Cade, Owen and Jack; brothers Thomas (Lorraine), Donald, Alois (Lynn); sister Mary Trnka; sisters-in-law Mary Barta, Kathleen Barta and Dorothy Barta.

He was preceded in death by his parents; brothers Stanley, Richard, Henry and Francis; sisters Rose Schmitt and Helen Bastyr; brothers-in-law Francis Schmitt, George Bastyr, Bernard Bisek, Larry Trnka; sisters-in-law Angie Barta and Faye Barta.

Mass of Christian Burial:  10:30 a.m.  Saturday, September 18, 2021, at Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church in West Fargo.

Visitation:  An hour prior

Burial:  Holy Cross – South, Fargo, ND

West Funeral Home & Life Tribute Center

westfuneralhome.com
 

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