Joseph Richard Kathrein

Joseph (Joe) Richard Kathrein, a resident of Edmond Ok. passed away on Monday August 17th. He was born in Bozeman, Montana on June 18, 1943 to Joseph and Muriel Kathrein. He was the beloved husband of 59 years to Elizabeth (Liz) Kathrein, father to Erika Kathrein of San Francisco, Ca. and Joshua (Josh) Kathrein (Janean) of Crescent, Ok. He was grandfather to Miera Kathrein to whom he was lovingly known as, Opa. Two step-grandchildren, Kayla and Jack Johnson are also survivors. Joe is survived by his sisters, Karyl Farris (Rick) of Albuquerque, NM and Mary Boncek of Dolores, Co. Other survivors include brother-in-law Gene Trujillo (Pana) of Buckeye, Az. And sister-in-law Joyce Sandoval of Albuquerque. Joe has several surviving nieces and nephews including, Angela Costanza (Ryan), Damien Farris (Laura), Jonathan Farris, Rebecca Trujillo-Bennett (Nolan), Ryan Sandoval (Tram Anh) and Erin Herrera (Brandon) all of Albuquerque. There are numerous other great grandnieces and grandnephews, cousins, and friends that Joe loved and whose lives were touched by him. Joe was preceded in death by his parents, a nephew, Bryan Trujillo, and brother-in-law Stanley Boncek.

At a young age, Joe moved with his family from Montana, to Columbia, Missouri; Aberdeen, South Dakota; Amarillo, Texas and finally to Albuquerque, NM. It was here that he graduated from high school and attended New Mexico State University in Las Cruces, NM for 1 year before enlisting in the Army. He served 2 1/2 years of his enlistment in Pirmasens, Germany. While there, he took advantage of Formula 1 racing events, skiing, trips to other German towns and cities, Austria and even one to Paris. When Joe returned from his service in 1966, he met the love of his life, Liz. Joe and Liz married, raised their children and lived their lives in Albuquerque until 2022 when they moved to Edmond to be near family and to obtain treatment for his illness.

Joe attended the University of New Mexico upon his discharge from the Army. In 1970, he began working for Sears Roebuck and Co. from where he retired in 1994. At Sears he worked as a salesman, deliveryman, warehouse manager and as advertising manager when advertising was still done in the local newspapers. In 1974 Joe enlisted in the 156th Support Group US Army Reserves, where he served in the capacity of photo journalist. In 1996 Joe transferred to the 333rd Corp Support Battalion until his retirement from the reserves in 1998. He loved his country and took great pride in his military service. Joe’s final civilian retirement was from the State of New Mexico, National Guard Bureau, in 2006.

Joe lead a rich and varied life. Though he was known for being quiet and reserved, he could converse on and had knowledge of a variety of topics. He had talents that included oil and watercolor painting and tin punching. He loved making the yard of his home beautiful and was a skilled gardener, a quality learned from his parents.

During his whole life, Joe was an avid outdoorsman. His appreciation of the outdoors was instilled at a young age. Living only about an hour’s drive from Yellowstone National Park, Joe’s family took pleasure in frequent Sunday picnics in Yellowstone. He skied the mountains in Germany, Austria and New Mexico. He spent glorious fall days hunting deer or elk in northern NM near Tres Piedras and in the mountains of southern NM in and around Glenwood. In retirement, Joe enjoyed kayaking, hiking, fishing and camping. Joe loved living in New Mexico and took advantage of so much of it’s beauty. When Liz retired in 2009, they traveled around the US and abroad.

One of the greatest joys of his life and a source of pride was serving in the color guard of the NM Chapter of Vietnam Veterans of America Chapter 318. Though Joe did not serve in Vietnam, he was invited to join the veterans organization. After the Vietnam war, soldiers that served in or during the conflict were not welcomed into existing veteran organizations. Vietnam Veterans of America came into existence as a result. For many years on Memorial Day, VVA Chapter 318 marched a garrison sized American flag one mile up a hill to the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Angel Fire, New Mexico.

Joe never spoke ill of anyone. He had many things in his life of which he was proud. His greatest pride and love was his family. He would be brought to quiet tears when their achievements or hard work were spoken about.

Although Joe was a “Cradle Catholic” and attended almost 12 years of catholic schools, he really learned to love the Lord and appreciate his Catholic faith after taking a series of adult formation programs. He prayed more fervently and learned to rely on and lean more heavily on God in a much more personal way.

Joe will be profoundly missed by his family. We are consoled because we know he is in heaven with his Lord and Savior and everyone he loved.

Joe embodied love of God Family Country. It is fitting that he is to buried on Patriot’s Day.

Special thanks to OU Health Advanced Lung Diseases Clinic, Dr. Jad Kebbe and Good Shepherd Hospice for their care.

A Rosary for Joe will be held, Friday, September 4, 2026 at 10:00 AM at St. John the Baptist Catholic Church, 900 S. Littler St. Edmond, OK 73034 following a Mass of Christian Burial at 11:00 AM.

A Rosary then will be held, Friday, September 11, 2026 at 10:00 AM at Our Lady of the Annunciation, 2621 Vermont St. Albuquerque, NE 87110 following a Mass of Christian Burial at 10:30 AM. Inurnment will follow to Santa Fe National Cemetery, 501 N. Guadalupe St. Santa Fe, NM at 2:00 PM.