Joseph Adolph Mares, age 80, of Friend, passed away June 25, 2023, at the Friend Hospital. He was born at home in Wilber on May 25, 1943, to Adolph and Helen (Janda) Mares.
Joe grew up in Wilber and graduated from Wilber High School in 1961. He then attended Doane College and graduated with a degree in chemistry in 1966. While cruising Crete with his buddies, Joe met Cheryl Lynn Sysel of Dorchester and they were married on April 26, 1969, at the United Methodist Church in Crete. After working several years at Dorsey Labs in Lincoln, Joe decided there might be a better career out there for him and he enrolled at the University of Nebraska to become a pharmacist. He graduated in 1974 and soon found a job at Chief Drug in Tecumseh. It was there that Joe and Cheryl welcomed their daughter, Sheri Renae, in 1975.
Joe and Cheryl both wanted to be closer to home, and in 1978, they moved to Friend when Joe found a job at Johnson Pharmacy. Joe loved his work at the pharmacy and particularly enjoyed being a fill-in pharmacist for other area pharmacies when they needed extra help. In 1997, the opportunity came up for Joe and Cheryl to purchase 1/2 ownership in Johnson Pharmacy, where he continued to work until his retirement in 2015.
Joe always enjoyed tinkering with things and was always the guy to go to if you needed help figuring something out. As a young boy, he enjoyed hanging out with his friends making model airplanes, inventing science projects and earning the nickname “pinky” because every situation made him blush, a trait that he lovingly passed on to his daughter, Sheri. In his later years, he very much enjoyed reading, especially science fiction and Star Trek books. Joe was always proud of his Czech heritage and enjoyed helping line up the Wilber Czech Days parade on his motorcycle.
He was a member of the Nebraska Pharmacy Association, Tabor Lodge #74 of Dorchester and an avid bowler at the Friendly Lanes in Friend. He will always be remembered for being a kind, quiet man that even though his body was failing him, he never complained.
He was preceded in death by his parents; parents-in-law, George and Elsie Sysel; son-in-law, Brad Kasl; and brother-in-law, Deryl Sysel. Those left to cherish his memory include his wife, Cheryl, of 54 years; daughter, Sheri Kasl and special friend Kevin Schuetze, Carter and Atley; sister-in-law, Karen Sysel; niece, Deb Shaw and Nate; great-nephews, Landon and Connor Shaw; and his faithful furry companions, Peaches and Patches.
The funeral service was June 30. Memorial contributions are suggested to the Friend Fire & Rescue Department. Arrangements by Kuncl Funeral Home.
