Joseph "Joe" E. Eilerman, age 64, of New Bremen, OH, died Friday, October 16, 2015 at his residence.

He was born on June 19, 1951 in Coldwater, OH. He was the son of the late Greg and Anna Marie (Hoying) Eilerman. On August 30, 1975 he married Peg Shelby who survives in New Bremen.

Also surviving are his children; Kim (Andy) Lee of Dublin, OH., and A.J. (Jenny) Eilerman of New Bremen, grandchildren Isla Lee, Ashtyn, Maeve and Everley Eilerman and his siblings; Janet (Robert) Hoying, Joan (Robert) Schnabel, John (Sandy) Eilerman, Judy (Jon) Sacksteder and Jerry (Marge) Eilerman, all of Minster, his in-laws Mike (Rosie) Shelby of St. Marys and Theresa (Bob) Garner of Tucson, AZ., and a number of nieces and nephews.

Joe was an active member of the Church of the Holy Redeemer in New Bremen, having served on Parish Council and several other committees. He was a former Boy Scout Leader in Minster and a member of the former New Bremen Lions Club. In 1984, after learning an old bridge northeast of New Knoxville was going to be replaced by the Auglaize Co. Commissioners, Joe "bought" the bridge and had it moved, reworked and placed at its present location across the Miami-Erie Canal in downtown New Bremen.

He attended both the Ohio State University and the Wright State University, studying mechanical engineering. Joe retired in 2011 from the Midmark Corp. of Versailles where he was hired to develop and manage its in-house Technical Publication Department. Prior to working at Midmark Corp., Joe was employed at STAMCO and Crown Equipment Corp. both of New Bremen and Fabcor of Minster. Following his retirement in 2011, Joe founded the Mission of the Body and Blood, serving as President and a member of the Board of Directors to, as in Joe's own words, "as a way to repay all of the good deeds given to me," helping those in both Tanzania and Haiti.

Joe loved his family especially spending time with his grandchildren. He enjoyed classic cars, and had restored several over the years. He was an outdoorsman, spending time fishing and hunting.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be on Saturday, October 24, 2105 at 10:30 A.M. at the Church of the Holy Redeemer in New Bremen with Rev. Robert Hadden Celebrant with Rev. Mr. Greg Bornhorst, Rev. Benedict Magabe and Rev. Alfons Minja concelebrating. Burial will follow in the St. Augustine Cemetery, Minster, OH.   

The family will receive friends on Friday, October 23, 2015 from 2 until 8 P.M. in the Parish Center of the Church of the Holy Redeemer and on Saturday from 9:00 until 10 A.M. in the Church of the Holy Redeemer at which time the Rosary will be prayed.

Joe requested that contributions be made to either the Gasper Seminary in Morogora, Tanzania, Africa or to the Mission of the Body and Blood.

Gilberg-Hartwig Funeral Home of New Bremen is handling the arrangements and condolences to the Eilerman family may be left at gilberghartwigfh.com.