Joseph "Joe" M. Stobbe, Sr.

Joseph “Joe” M. Stobbe, Sr. 77 of Ashton, NE passed away peacefully with his wife, Elaine nearby Tuesday, July 30, 2024 at Brookfield Park in St. Paul, NE. He fought a long and courageous battle with cancer. Mass of Christian Burial will be 10:30 a.m. Tuesday, August 6, 2024 at St. Francis Catholic Church in Ashton, NE. Father Richard Piontkowski will celebrate the mass. Burial will be held at St. Francis Catholic Cemetery in Ashton. Lunch will follow at the St. Francis Parish Hall. Visitation will be from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. Monday, August 5 at the church. Memorials are suggested to the Stobbe family for later designation or donor’s choice.

Joseph (Joe) M. Stobbe, Sr. was born November 24, 1946 to Theo and Agnes (Karas) Stobbe in Grand Island, NE. He grew up in Ashton, started country school then later attended St. Francis School in Ashton and graduated from Ashton High School. Joe farmed with his father, Theo and then married sweetheart, Elaine Budzinski on February 6th, 1971 in Arcadia, NE. The couple had one son, Joseph M. Stobbe, Jr. on June 29th, 1972.

The couple started Stobbe Hay Grinding and continued farming in Howard and Sherman County. Joe enjoyed tractor pulling and was a lifetime member of the NTPA. He was a long-time sponsor of the ladies fast pitch softball team in Ashton.

In his spare time Joe loved to be with his family, especially his grandchildren. He loved to collect John Deere tractors, equipment and toys. When Joe was working on tractors his best friend, “Blue” the trusty Blue Healer was always by his side. If there was a parade or a tractor poker run, you could count Joe, Elaine, JJ and his grandchildren to be there.

Survivors include his wife, Elaine of Ashton, NE; son, Joseph, Jr.  and Michelle Stobbe of North Loup, NE; grandchildren, Brock and Tiffany McDonald, (Kadisyn, Kessyn, Ruger, and Asher) of Wood River, NE; Bryce and Valerie McDonald (Kamryn Jo) of Scotia, NE; Megan (River Kirby) Jorgensen of O’Neill, NE; Courtney Stobbe of Bellevue, NE; Zachary Stobbe of North Loup, NE; sisters, Judi Pemberton of Loup City, NE; Barbara (Steve) Fuller of Grand Island, NE; Shelly (Marty) Martin of Ashland, NE; nieces and nephews, Erin K. Pemberton, Sean Pemberton, Lexie (Cody) Jenkins, Taylor Martin and many great nieces and nephews.

Joe was preceded in death by his parents, Theo and Agnes Stobbe; father-in-law and mother-in-law, Raymond and Jean Budzinski; Jean’s second husband, Alex Smedra; sister, Carol; brother-in-law, Ron Dzingle; nephew, Bryan Dzingle; brother-in-law, Roger Pemberton and nephew, Charles (Chuck) Anderson.