Joseph Lewis Rife

Joseph L. Rife

Age 78, Kaukauna, Wisconsin, passed away at Appleton Medical Center on Monday, April 24, 2006, with his wife, Marion, at his side. Joe was born November 18, 1927 in Carpenter, Ohio, son of the late Charles S. and Sarah M. (Brooks) Rife. Joe was married to Glada Byrnside for 13 years and then to Marion Belongea for 33 years. During World War II he served his country faithfully as a member of the Army Air Force.
From May 1973 to October of 1979 Joe was Vice President of Finance for Springfield Gravure Corporation in Springfield, Ohio. He was later transferred to George Banta Corporation in Menasha, Wisconsin. After he retired, Joe and Marion incorporated Rife Associates, Inc. and provided accounting and income tax preparation services.
Joe was very passionate about his golf game. He enjoyed trout fishing in the Smokies, reading, and gardening. He also looked forward to visiting “The Farm” in Ohio after tax season was over. Joe was a member of the following organizations: NATP, volunteer for EAA and American Post 0476, located in Wilkesville, Ohio. He was a faithful friend of Bill W.
Left to cherish his memory are his wife, Marion Rife of Kaukauna; his daughters Karen (Robert) Kinney, Toledo, OH and Linda Pedigo, Columbus, OH. Seven brothers: Charles “Jack” (Martha) Vinton, OH, Henry “Ebby”, Dexter, OH, William “Buddy” (Emma), Brevard, NC, Donald (Christine), Langsville, OH, Robert (Phyllis), St. Albans, WV, Ronald (Marjorie), Langsville, OH and Larry (Dale), Wyoming, DE; four sisters: Juanita Saxton, Howard, OH, Dorothy (George) Beveridge, Zephyrhills, FL, Helen Reinhard, Tucson, AZ, and Patricia McCort, Langsville, OH, three granddaughters, two grandsons, four great-grandchildren and a number of nieces and nephews.
Also surviving are his wife’s brothers: Myron (Elaine) Belongea, Green Bay, Edward (Marge) Belongea, Kimberly, Fr. David Belongea, Capuchin, Appleton, George (Frances) Belongea, Denmark; three sisters-in-law: Rita (Robert) Seering, Green Bay, Ruth (Kenneth) Vanderloop, Kaukauna, and Sylvia Robinson, New Orleans, LA.
Along with his parents and his wife’s parents, he was preceded in death by ten brothers-in-law and four sisters-in-law.
Funeral services will be held on Friday, April 28, 2006 at 11:00 a.m. at the Fargo Funeral Home, 400 West Wisconsin Ave., Kaukauna, with the Rev. David Belongea, Capuchin officiating. Friends will be received at the funeral home on Friday from 9:00 a.m. until the time of the service. Entombment will be in St. Joseph’s Cemetery, Appleton. A memorial fund in Joe’s name is being established for the Martha Siekman Cancer Center and the Kaukauna Public Library.

Fargo Funeral Home
400 W. Wisconsin Avenue
Kaukauna 766-6200
www.fargofuneralhome.com