Joe Barresi

Joseph A. Barresi, 87, of Traverse City, died November 15, 2018 at Orchard Creek.
He was born in Detroit on July 8, 1931, the son of Andrew and Wilhemina (Novotny) Barresi.
Joseph grew up in Northport, where he owned and operated a cherry farm until retirement in 2000, at which time he moved to Traverse City. He attended the Gunton School until third grade and graduated from Northport High School in 1951. After high school, he attended Michigan State University to study horticulture and completed speech therapy courses at Central Michigan University.
He enjoyed dancing, walking and international travel, which took him around the globe to France, Germany, The Netherlands, Switzerland, Italy, Greece, Spain, Portugal and Morocco. He also lived in Mexico for the month of February for several years, worked in Alaska in 1955 and visited Hawaii.
Joseph is survived by his brother, Daniel of Kalamazoo and many nieces and nephews as well as special friends Mary Kaltenbach and Brenda Miller.
He is preceded in death by his parents, brother Jacob, as well as his niece Marcia.
A funeral service will take place Monday November 19, 2018 at 11:30am with visitation one hour prior at the Reynolds Jonkhoff Funeral Home; 305 Sixth Street, Traverse CIty, MI 49684. A luncheon will follow.

Those considering an expression of sympathy may choose to do so to the Northport Fire Department.


The family is being cared for and served by the Reynolds-Jonkhoff Funeral Home and Cremation Services.