Joseph Frank Abele, 1913–1987

Joseph Frank Abele was born 20 June 1913 in St. Louis, Missouri. He was the son of Joseph Daniel Abele and Carrie (Wachtel) Abele. This couple had at least three children: Joseph Frank; Loretta Catherine (Abele) Petrovic; and George Charles. Joseph’s mother Carrie died at the young age of twenty-five of tuberculosis on 21 July 1920 in St. Louis. She is interred at Gatewood Gardens Cemetery [New Pickers]. His father, Joseph Daniel Abele, lived forty-one years more than his beloved wife and died on 10 July 1961 at the age of seventy-three, never remarrying. He is buried at Lakewood Park Cemetery.

Joseph Frank Abele married Mildred Georgia “Mil” Gilbert on 29 May 1937 in St. Louis. They had one son, Joseph Gary. Mil was the daughter of Rennie Edward Gilbert, a brewery worker who died at sixty years old of a heart attack, and Belle Amerilea (Sleeth) Gilbert. Both of them are interred at Dixon Cemetery.

Joseph was an inspector for the International Hat Company, but by 1950, he was working at a brewing plant.

Joseph died on 25 October 1987 in St. Louis and is interred at Lakewood Park Cemetery, the same place his wife and father are buried. He was a former high priest at Oriental Chapter 78 and Algabil Lodge No 544, A. F. and A. M. [Ancient Free and Accepted Masons].

Written by Shirley Wadell
January 2025

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