Joseph Timothy Sturm

JOSEPH “JOE” TIMOTHY STURM, age 74, of Madison Lake passed away on Wednesday, June 12, 2024 at the Methodist Campus of Mayo Clinic Hospital in Rochester.

Born on January 4, 1950 in Mankato, Joe was the son of Robert and Mary Elizabeth “Betty” (Berendt) Sturm. He moved to Minneapolis as a child and fondly remembered his days growing up in Robbinsdale and on Lake Calhoun. He graduated from Benilde High School. He attended cosmetology school in Minneapolis and became a hairdresser at Christian salon in Minneapolis. Joe then moved to Mankato and worked as a warehouse manager at MRCI where he met his wife, Kathryn “Kathy” Betlach. They were united in marriage on May 20, 1978, at St. Thomas Moore Newman Center in Mankato. They were married for 46 years and lived by the lake in Madison Lake. After leaving MRCI, he opened Sturms Hair Care. Joe eventually traded in his shears for a bulldozer and became a proud 49er heavy equipment operator until his retirement. 

Joe enjoyed fishing, gardening, coaching and playing hockey, attending sporting events, traveling, listening to live music, going off the beaten path, driving the backroads, grilling, and lake activities. Joe and Kathy visited many national parks and baseball stadiums. He was a member of AA where he was a mentor to many and was proud of his 33 years of sobriety. He was a volunteer with the Madison Lake Fire Department and a member of All Saints Catholic Church in Madison Lake.

Joe is survived by his wife, Kathy of Madison Lake; children, Leah Sturm (Eric Kalin) of Eden Prairie, Joseph Patrick Sturm of Minneapolis; granddaughter, Valentina “Valley” Kalin; brother, Robert (Karen) Sturm of Blaine; four nieces and one nephew. 

He was preceded in death by his parents; sister, Mary Fuller; father-in-law, Ernest Betlach; and mother-in-law, Mary Ann Betlach. 

Visitation will be from 4 -7 PM on Monday, June 24, 2024 at All Saints Catholic Church in Madison Lake. Visitation will continue one hour prior to the service at the church on Tuesday. 

Mass of Christian Burial will be at 11:00 AM on Tuesday, June 25, 2024 at All Saints Catholic Church. A burial will follow at Calvary Cemetery in Madison Lake. 

In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorials to St. David’s Center for Child and Family Development in Minnetonka or the Madison Lake Fire Department.