Joseph B. "Joe" Bixenmann, 95, of Grand Island, NE, died Saturday, May 04, 2019, at his home with family at his side. Mass of Christian burial will be Wednesday, May 8, 2019, at 10:30 a.m. at Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church. The Rev. Martin L. Egging will be the celebrant. Inurnment will be in the Grand Island City Cemetery. Visitation will be Tuesday, May 7, 2019, from 4 – 6 p.m., at the church with a vigil service at 6:00 p.m. Curran Funeral Chapel is assisting the family. Joseph Bruce Bixenmann, son of John and Armelita (Carl) Bixenmann, was born June 22, 1923, in Grand Island, NE. Joe was raised in Grand Island. He graduated from St. Mary's Catholic High School in 1941. After briefly working in the shipyards in Seattle, WA he was conscripted into the Army in 1943 where he served in the European theatre as an anti-aircraft gunner as a member of Battery C 549th AAA where he was one of the troops that assisted in the liberation of Buchenwald concentration camp. Joe was united in marriage to Doris (Hatfield) on January 14, 1947. They were married for 50 years to which three children were born, Stephen, Robyn and Mark. Joe was known as was a hard worker and was employed as a bricklayer for many years. He and the family moved to Colorado Springs, CO to help build the Air Force Academy in the late 1950s. They moved back to Grand Island in the early 1960s where he continued to work as a bricklayer and then as Hall County Grounds Superintendent. Following retirement he took care of his wife until her passing in 1997. Joe was proud to say that he was a lifelong member of the Knights of Columbus. Joe loved to take care of his yard and garden; he especially loved his roses. He loved and enjoyed his granddaughters and great-granddaughters. He was always thrilled to see and hold his babies, even meeting and holding his three-month-old and youngest great-granddaughter on Easter Sunday of this year. He was a very kind, gentle and generous soul and would help anyone who asked for help in any way that he could. Those left to cherish his memory are his three children, Stephen of Grand Island, Robyn Rohlfing of Plymouth, Mark (Carolyn) Bixenmann of Grand Island. Five granddaughters, Anne Schmidt of Overland Park, KS, Randy (David) Steward of Gretna, Cydney (Ben) Gill of Sergeant Bluff, IA, Jessica (Ali) Kuraishy of SanDiego, Michelle (Scott) Seeba of Kearney and one grandson, Michael (Sheila) Graves of Omaha, seven great-granddaughters, Halie Schmidt, Harper and Mackenzie Steward, Addison and Wesley Gill and Maris Seeba and one great-grandson to be born in June, Zaydan Joseph Kuraishy, as well as numerous nieces and nephews. He was a member of Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church and the Knights of Columbus. He was proceeded in death by his parents, John and Armelita Bixenmann, and all of his ten siblings. Memorials are suggested to Grand Island Central Catholic or Grand Island Community Foundation. Your thoughts and prayers may be given at www.curranfuneralchapel.com under Joe's obituary. Visitation Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church Tuesday, May 7, 2019 4:00 PM - 6:00 PM 518 West State Street Grand Island, Nebraska 68801 Vigil Service Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church Tuesday, May 7, 2019 6:00 PM 518 West State Street Grand Island, Nebraska 68801 Mass of Christian Burial Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church Wednesday, May 8, 2019 10:30 AM 518 West State Street Grand Island, Nebraska 68801