Joe Bezner

Joseph John Bezner, 103, of Lindsay, passed away on November 8, 2022 in Muenster.

Joe was born the eighth of twelve children to Joseph Frank and Margaret Schmitz Bezner in Lindsay, TX on February 11, 1919.  He graduated from Subiaco Academy in 1936 and joined the Army National Guard soon after where he served his country proudly as a surgical technician in World War II, discharged as a Staff Sergeant.  While in the service, Joe met and married Anna Mae Hebert on May 21, 1945, in Louisiana.  They moved to Lindsay shortly after and began their life as a married couple.  Joe was a loving husband and father to eight beautiful children and served as the patriarch of the Bezner family.  He worked for several local businesses including Massey Harris, John Deere, and Schad & Pulte.  He also managed many restaurants including Dutchman and Green Gables.  In 1979 he began his full-time career with Germania Insurance.  In 1984 Joe opened the office in Lindsay where he worked until his retirement in 2002 at the age of 83.  In addition to his various jobs and duties as a devout father, Joe served as the first mayor of Lindsay in 1959.  He was re-elected several times and served his community in this role until 1976.  While Joe was mayor, the town completed a water system, built a sewage disposal system, dug a second water well, Main Street was widened, City Hall was built, and the town contracted for a part-time Sheriff for patrol.  After he retired, Joe volunteered as sacristan at St. Peter’s Catholic Church until he began caring for his wife full-time until her death.  He was the first recipient of the Hometown Hero Award from Lindsay ISD.

Joe was preceded in death by wife of 70 years, Anna; daughter Judy Morisak; sisters: Cecilia Corcoran, Anna Zamora, Albina Young, Isabel Galvan, Catherine Kelly and Elsie Benanate; and brothers: William, Al, Hubert and Robert.

Joe is survived by: sister Dorthy Zimmerer; daughters and sons-in-law: Barbara and George Taylor of North Richland Hills, Kathy and John Garrett of Gainesville, and Jo Ann and Lynn Huchton of Gainesville; sons and daughters-in-law: Skipper and Barbara Bezner of Lindsay, Michael and Jan Bezner of Georgetown, Kenny and Suzanne Bezner of Lindsay, and Chuck and Cathy Bezner of Gainesville; son-in-law Roy Morisak of Highland Village; 23 grandchildren; 62 great-grandchildren; 2 great-great-grandchildren; and numerous nieces and nephews.

A Rosary prayer service, with visitation to follow, is scheduled for 6:00 p.m. on Friday, November 11, at Geo. J. Carroll & Son Funeral Home.  A Mass of Christian Burial is scheduled for 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, November 12, at St. Peter’s Catholic Church.  Interment with military honors will follow at St. Peter’s Cemetery.

Serving as pallbearers are grandsons: Gene Morisak, Steve Bezner, Jeff Bezner, Shelby Bezner, Larry Garrett, and Shane Huchton.

Memorial contributions may be made to Subiaco Abbey, 405 N. Subiaco Ave., Subiaco, AR 72865.