Joseph Francis Prebenda

Joseph F. Prebenda, 70 of Gaylord, passed away Monday, May 11, 2026, at home.

Born March 9, 1956, in Dearborn, Joe was the first born child of Ronald J. and Margaret M. (Mallon) Prebenda. He was also the first born grandchild to both sets of grandparents.

After graduating from Bishop Borgess High School in Redford in 1974, Joe attended Northern Michigan University in Marquette.

Joe worked at Corrigan Moving, National Window Cleaning where he cleaned windows in Downtown Detroit office buildings, and in shipping and receiving at the Renaissance Center in Detroit. While working there, he had the honor of meeting President Gerald R. Ford during his visit there.

He moved to Gaylord in 1981 where he first lived with the Judge Daniel Walsh family. Joe worked at 7-Eleven, served as an Otsego County Corrections Officer, where he worked along side his mother-in-law, Evelyn Kammer, and he worked in shipping and receiving at Walmart. He then joined Cooper Standard, where he worked for 25 years. There Joe was a member of union #388. He retired in 2019.

Joe also served as an EMT for Otsego County EMS, where he met his future wife, Marie Kammer. They were married in July 1984 after having their son, Daniel.

The family enjoyed traveling around northern Michigan, camping, fishing, climbing the dunes, and visiting Mackinac Island. They also enjoyed trips to Grand Haven with family for the 4th of July and the Coast Guard Festival. Joe had a life long love of the outdoors, hunting and fishing. As children, he and his brothers would spend summers in Gaylord at Camp Sancta Maria.

Joe is survived by Marie, his wife of 42 years; his son, Daniel Prebenda of Wyoming, MI; brothers, James Prebenda and Mark Prebenda (Sally Seyuin) both of Redford, MI; sisters, Kathleen (Shawn) White of Marblehead, MA, and Lisa (George) Zahra of Dexter, MI; a brother-in-law, Bill (Donna) Tosh of Port Charlotte, FL; nieces and nephews, Jamie Schultz, James Tosh, Lauren Prebenda, and Kristen Prebenda; and great nephews, William and Christopher Shoemaker.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Ronald and Mary Prebenda; his maternal and paternal grandparents; and a sister-in-law, Beverly Tosh.

In keeping with his wishes, Joe's family will remember him privately. Those who wish are asked to consider memorial contributions to McCarthy's Wildlife Sanctuary, Munson Hospice in Grayling, or the American Cancer Society.