Joseph Ketarkus

Joseph (Joe) Ketarkus, 64, passed away on December 18, 2012.
He was born December 23, 1947 in Racine, Wisconsin, the first child of Joseph Ketarkus and Jean (nee Johnson) Ketarkus, married Karin (nee Beyerstedt) on January 30, 1971 in Madison, WI. Joe is survived by his wife Karin of Madison, WI, sons Joe (Becky) and Christopher, also of Madison, WI, eight grandchildren Alexandra, Cameren, Branden, Aaden, Jaxen, Juliana, Sofia and Teresa, his mother Jean, brother Paul (Sheri) and sister Mary (Tom) Brown, cousins, brother-in-laws Arthur Beyerstedt and Tom Brown and sister-in-law Dorothy Ann Didato.
Special survivors are Joe's golf buddies and devoted friend since childhood, Russ Missurelli of Madison.
He is predeceased by his father Joseph J. Ketarkus in 1972 and grandparents.
After attending St. Francis de Sales Seminary, he earned a nursing degree from University of Wisconsin, Madison. As a teenager Joe started working in the emergency room of the former St.Mary's Hospital in Racine, WI. Joe continued serving in the medical profession as a registered nurse until his retirement from Meriter Hospital, where he worked as Emergency Medical Services coordinator and served on the South Central Regional Trauma Advisory Council. In 2010, Joe received a Real Heroes Hero of a Lifetime Award from the American Red Cross, for having "lived a life of dedication to others" and "making a profound difference in his community."
Joe's favorite thing was playing golf at his beloved Nine Springs Golf Course in Fitchburg, Wisc.
In 2011, he played 1,331 nine-hole rounds. Not holes ---- rounds. He also enjoyed coin-collecting, baking chocolate chip cookies and bread. Shortly before he died Joe was honored by a call from golf legend Jack Nicklaus.
A visitation for family and friends will be held Sunday, December 23 at CRESS FUNERAL HOME, 3610 Speedway Road, Madison from 1 to 2 p.m. with a service to follow at 2pm. Internment will take place on Monday, December 24, 2012 at 10 a.m. at Sunset Memory Gardens, 7302 Mineral Point Road, Madison. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation in Joe's memory to Heartland Hospice, Madison, WI.