Joseph P. Montgomery, 74, Stevens Point, died Tuesday, Sept. 19, 2017, at his home under the care of Ministry Hospice.

He was born Nov. 14, 1942, in Ottumwa, Iowa, to the late Enoch and Genevieve (Volk) Montgomery. He attended school in Amherst and graduated from high school in 1961.

He was married to Theresa (Buza) Firkus June 26, 1976, at St. Patrick’s Catholic Church, Lanark. They were married for 39 years before she died Oct. 27, 2015.

Throughout his life, Mr. Montgomery lived in Iowa, Wisconsin, Texas and Arkansas. He worked in the fertilizer industry, owned a farm and managed a construction team in Mexico building roads.

In 2013, he retired from Donaldson Co. after 21 years there.

Together, he and his wife enjoyed gardening, traveling out west and playing pinochle or cribbage. They were avid church-goers who loved polka dancing at church picnics and weddings.

During family gatherings, he would set up a croquet course, and in the fall, he played all-time quarterback for family football games.

He also enjoyed yard work, playing cards, responding with clever quips and witty comebacks, and making people laugh. He also liked pontooning on Lake Nokomis in Tomahawk.

Mr. Montgomery was an avid fan of the Iowa Hawkeyes and enjoyed watching the Green Bay Packers, Milwaukee Brewers and Wisconsin Badgers with family.

He is survived by his children, Michelle (Richard) Grzesciakowski, Waupaca, and Donald Montgomery, Turlock, Calif.; stepchildren, Shirley (Richard Rader) Hogrefe, Plainfield; Roger (Diane) Firkus, Iola, Allen (Donna) Firkus, Wisconsin Rapids, Janeen (Keith Sullivan) Groshek, Burnsville, Jack (Linda) Firkus, Stevens Point, and Nichole (Matthew) Peplinski, Tomahawk; 11 stepgrandchildren; nine stepgreat-grandchildren; one stepgreat-great-grandchild; and siblings, Samuel (Patricia) Montgomery, Lisbon, Iowa; Michael (Cindy) Montgomery, Mt. Vernon, and Regina Roberts, Lisbon, Iowa.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Theresa; his parents; his son, James Montgomery; stepgranddaughter, Traci Anne Firkus; and stepgrandson, Benjamin Duane Betro.

The family would like to thank Marshfield Clinic Cancer Center and Ministry Hospice for the care he received.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday Sept. 23, 2017, at Sacred Heart Catholic Church, Polonia, with the Rev. Greg Michaud officiating. Burial will be in St. James Parish Cemetery, Amherst.

Visitation will be at 9 a.m. until time of service Saturday at the church. In lieu of flowers, memorials in his name will be established at a later date. Pisarski Funeral Homes of Stevens Point and Plover are honored to be serving the family. For online condolences, visit www.pisarskifuneralhome.com.