Joseph William Filbert

Joseph William Filbert, age 91, formerly of Port Byron and Moline, IL, passed away at his home in Viroqua, Wisconsin, on August 15, 2026, surrounded by his immediate family.

Joe was born February 21, 1935, in Port Byron to Edward C. and Kathleen E. (Hagel) Filbert. He spent his early years there before moving to Erie in his teens.

After graduating from Erie High School in 1953, Joe joined the Army, serving in Korea before being transferred to White Sands Missile Range. While home on leave, and just a few years before the days of online dating, Joe went on a double date and ended up marrying the other guy's girl, Carole Ann Trudo of Sterling, Illinois. Never mind that Joe already had another girl's name tattooed on his arm!

After his honorable discharge, Joe and Carole returned to Illinois, where he gained employment with Western Electric and later Illinois Bell, from which he retired. Five children were born to Joe and Carole, and then the fun began. Camping was the main family activity, but there was also time for Joe to be a jack-of-all-trades—building birdhouses, rescuing baby animals, and tinkering with, fixing, or building anything that intrigued him or simply needed to be done. You couldn't ask him the time without being told how to build a clock.

After retirement, Joe and Carole spent years traveling from coast to coast, including trips to Alaska, and living on and off in Florida and Arkansas before returning to the Midwest and settling in Viroqua to be near family.

Among Joe's most enjoyable moments were relaxing at the end of the day with a cold drink and good conversation, preferably around a campfire with family. Topics ranged from boyhood memories on his uncle's farm and helping on his parents' farm, to stories from his and Carole's road trips, how best to fix something, early-life escapades and adventures, and even a little astrophysics and philosophy.

In addition to loving his wife and children immensely, Joe loved his border collies and cats. He was an avid reader until just a few years ago and deeply valued his independence.

Joe is survived by Carole, his wife of 70 years; his sister, Mary Ellen Schaefer; and his children, Joe (Tammy), Arvada, CO; Beth (Niels) Jensen, Gays Mills, WI; Tim, Washington, DC; Cathy (Greg) Senatra, Warsaw, MO; and Matt (Bobbi), Bellevue, ID. He is also survived by 11 grandchildren: Katy, Randi, Blade, Dylan, Janelle, Shelby, Madeline, Baily, Dalton, Raine, and Camas; and six great-grandchildren: Aniyah, Barrett, Miles, Hayes, Lauren and Zoe. He was preceded in death by his parents and his brother, David Filbert.

The family is deeply grateful to the supportive and caring staff at Maplewood Assisted Living in Viroqua, Wisconsin, and the hospice personnel provided through Emplify/Gundersen Health for their compassionate assistance during the last weeks of Joe's life.

A Celebration of Joe's Life will be held at a later date. 

Vosseteig-Larson Funeral Home & Crematory is serving Joe's family.

123 W. Decker St.

Viroqua, WI 54665

608-637-2100