EARLVILLE - Joseph Henry Krienert, 86, of Earlville passed away May 11, 2017 at Parker Nursing and Rehabilitation Center in Streator.

Private services will be held at the Hanley-Turner-Eighner Funeral Home in Earlville with Rev. Joel Phelps officiating. Burial will follow at St. Theresa Catholic Cemetery in Earlville. Private visitation will be held at the funeral home.

Joe was born Oct. 3, 1930 in Osmond, Neb. to Joseph and Christina (Stiern) Krienert. He married Wilma J. Gatiss on Jan. 28, 1956 at St. Theresa Catholic Church in Earlville. She preceded him in death in 1995.

Survivors include one daughter, Anita (Duane) Hollingsworth of Leland; two sons, Mike (Claire Anders) Krienert of Leland and Kenneth (Virginia) Krienert of Earlville; five grandchildren, Jessica, Joseph, Kristen, Laura and Adam; one sister, Loretta Krienert of Somonauk; and one brother, Norbert Krienert of Osmond, Neb.

He was preceded in death by his parents; his wife; his mother-in-law, May Gatiss; four sisters, Sr. Lauriana, Clara, Marie and Helen; and two brothers, Vincent and Adolph.

Joe was a member of St. Theresa Catholic Church in Earlville. He was a veteran of the U.S. Army, having served during the Korean War. He and his sister were orphaned at a young age and were raised by their older sister, Clara and her husband Charles Throener. After the war he came to Earlville where he worked at Marathon Electric, then Caterpillar. He also worked in Chicago and Northern Illinois building swimming pools for several years and took care of the Gatiss Farm for many years. He was constantly busy and was known for his colorful adjectives.

Memorials may be directed to Earlville American Legion, the Earlville Ambulance or the Earlville Fire Department. For more information or to sign the online guest book, go to www.EighnerFuneralHomes.com.