Obituary of Joseph Ruben Hess
Joseph “Joe” Rueben Hess, age 89 departed this life on Friday; May 19, 2023, after a short battle of pneumonia at ProMedica Monroe Regional Hospital. He was born at home on the family farm in Maybee, Michigan to the late Clement and Hazel (Younglove) Hess. He was the fifth child of eight children.
Joe married the love of his life, MaryAnn Burkey on February 6, 1954, at St. John the Baptist Catholic Church in Monroe, Michigan performed by Father Shaw. Joe was drafted in 1955 and served in the United States Army during the Korean War as Military Police at Fort Stewart in Liberty County, Georgia. He was honorably discharged in 1957. He then continued his employment at Ford Motor Company in Monroe, Michigan for thirty years as a job setter until June 1994 when he retired. Joe enjoyed his dog: Penny, vacationing, camping with River Raisin Camping Club, mowing his lawn, bowling, events hosted at Monroe Senior Center, family gatherings, playing cards, fishing, and watching his grandchildren play sports.
Joe was preceded in death by his parents: Clement and Hazel Hess; his siblings: Rosella Mazur, Loretta Aubry, Herbert Hess, and MaryAnna Riehle; a daughter: Rose Marie Schindler in 2007; and a granddaughter: Anna Marie Hess in 2016. He is survived by a sister: Shirley Saum, Norma Lee Thomas, and Dorothy (Robert) LaPrad.
He leaves behind his wife of sixty-nine years: MaryAnn Hess; his son: Clement (Sandra) Hess, a daughter Jo Ann (Bryan) Spicer; son-in-law: Richard Schindler; seven grandchildren: Nicole (Brock) Vollweiler, Amanda (Steven) Griffith, Shawna (Douglas) Newsome, Joseph (Kristy) Hess, Nicholas, Samantha, and Sydney Spicer; and eight great grandchildren: Reese and Zoey Vollweiler, Ben, Will, and Abby Griffith, Emma and AnnaBella Newsome, and Troy Hess. Joe will be greatly missed.
Friends may gather from 4:00pm until 8:00pm on Tuesday; May 23, 2023, at Merkle Funeral Service, South Monroe; 14567 South Dixie Highway, Monroe, Michigan 48161 (734) 241-7070. Members of the Monroe Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 1138 will provide veteran’s honors at 7:15pm. A Scripture service will follow at 7:30pm. He will lie in state from 9:30am until 10:30am at St. John the Baptist Catholic Church; 511 South Monroe Street, Monroe, Michigan 48161. The Mass of the Resurrection will take place at 10:30am. A private burial will follow at Roselawn Memorial Park in LaSalle.
Memorials in Joe’s honor are suggested to the American Cancer Society or the Wreaths Across America for fallen Veteran’s. Online guests may leave words of inspiration and comfort or share a photo by visiting www.merklefs.com.