Joe Brezina, a long-time resident of Axtell, passed away peacefully on Monday, June 22, 2015 at the age of 86. He had endured several ailments over the past several years, but always with optimism and faith. A visitation will be held from 6 to 7 p.m. Wednesday, June 24 at Bellmead Funeral Home with a Rosary recited at 7 p.m. Mass will be at 2:00 pm Thursday, June 25 at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Elk, with Father Michael Ajewole officiating. Burial will follow at St. Joseph Cemetery in Elk. Joe was born March 17, 1929 in Reagan, Texas, one of six brothers and four sisters of Steve Frank and Sophie (Wierzvicki) Brezina. He attended Reagan school and spent much of his young life hunting, fishing and picking cotton with his family. Drafted into the Army in 1951, Joe volunteered to serve duty in the Korean Conflict. After working various jobs in Louisiana, Texas and Mexico, he married the former Verna Marie Kuzniarek, of Bremond, on November 26, 1955 and moved to Waco shortly after. The couple enjoyed 57 years together, until the death of Verna in 2013. In 1967, the couple moved to Axtell with their two sons, where they were long-time members of St. Joseph's Catholic Church in Elk. Joe worked for General Tire & Rubber Company, retiring after 30 years in 1986, but he continued to raise cattle and hay on his farms at Axtell and Prairie Hill. Joe took great pride in his family, faith and garden, and he loved hunting and fishing, especially with his grandchildren. He saw beauty everywhere, hardly knew a stranger, and found good in every person. Joe is survived by his two sons, Joe F. Brezina of Axtell and Dennis Brezina and wife Laura of Bryan; grandchildren Blaine, Megan and Ethan, also of Bryan; two sisters Pauline Herzog of Dobbin and Magdaline Angelo of Houston; his brother Anton Brezina of Marshall; and many nieces, nephews and cousins. The family would like to thank Dr. Charles Schoultz, Jr. and his nurse, Brenda, for years of dedicated service to Joe and the rest of the community and also the doctors and staff at Providence Hospital and the Heart Hospital at Medical City Dallas. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to St. Joseph Catholic Church in Elk or to the St. Joseph Cemetery. Please sign the online guest book at www.bellmeadfuneralhome.com