Joseph Pekarek
Joseph C. Pekarek, age 90, a resident of Eagle River, WI, passed away on Saturday April, 11, 2026.
He was born to Joe and Kate Pekarek on August 10, 1935, on Bass Lake, later went home to Seneca Lake, next door to Grandma and Grandpa Zeman. In 1939, he moved to Sunset Lake. He graduated from Union Eagle River Free High School in 1953. In 1954, he was an accomplished musician and played accordion in a band. He went on to attend the University of Wisconsin College of Engineering.
After graduation, he came back to Eagle River and worked at a marina, then managed a machine shop owned by Cranberry Products, where he designed cranberry picking machinery.
In 1962, after turning down a job at General Dynamics in San Diego, California to stay in the Midwest, he took a job at Honeywell to be closer to his family. While there, obtained patents for his design and development of the first smoke detectors.
After he retired in 1999, he and his wife, Elsa, managed and ran Pekarek’s Sunset Cottages. He volunteered many hours to the Friends of the Library. Together, they were members of the American Musical Box Society and the Chicago Accordion Club, and he served as president from 2015–2019.
He loved nature and animals and had a deep respect for every living thing, even bugs.
He was preceded in death by his mom and dad, and his wife Elsa.
He is survived by his daughter, Vicki Pekarek; grandchildren, Brad and Sandra; great-grandchildren, Annette and Zack; and son, Mike Pekarek; and daughter-in-law, Carol Pekarek
Arrangements by Gaffney-Busha Funeral Home, Eagle River. Online condolences may be expressed at gaffney-busha.com
