Joe Albrecht

Funeral services for Mr. Joseph Paul Albrecht, age 76, of Cookeville, will be at 11 a.m. Tuesday, Oct. 31 at Cookeville First United Methodist Church with Dr. Martin Thielen and Rev. Rob Wheeler officiating. Private interment will follow at Cookeville City Cemetery. Mr. Albrecht's family will receive friends Monday from 4 - 6 p.m. at the Cookeville Chapel of Hooper Huddleston and Horner Funeral Home and again Tuesday from 10 a.m. until time of services at the church. Mr. Albrecht passed away Wednesday evening, Oct. 25, 2017 at Cookeville Regional Medical Center. He was born March 1, 1941 in Downs, KS to the late Harold and Roberta Hachenberg Albrecht. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by a brother, Dennis Albrecht. He is survived by his wife of 47 years, Connie Heard Albrecht, who he married on July 7, 1970; son Jay Albrecht of Cookeville; daughter and son-in-law, Shawn Michelle and Jay Martinez of Kansas City, MO; sister, Joyce Yatsook of Grandview, MO; brother and sister-in-law, Harold Robert and Betty Albrecht of Fuqua-Varina, NC; two grandchildren, Taryn and Miranda Martinez. Mr. Albrecht was in the newspaper business for his entire professional career, starting as a paper carrier at age 11 and working his way up to publisher at the Cookeville Herald-Citizen for 14 years (1976-1989). Following his stint as publisher, Mr. Albrecht started a newspaper ownership and consulting company, which at one time owned and managed eight small newspapers in Tennessee, North Carolina and Kentucky. He was passionate about the role a good newspaper played in the success of a community. Mr. Albrecht was the consummate communitarian, believing he should serve the community in which he lived to the best of his ability. Over the years, he was actively involved in the Putnam County Habitat for Humanity, WCTE public television, Cookeville-Putnam County Chamber of Commerce, Tennessee Press Association, Tennessee Tech University Foundation, CityScape, First United Methodist Church, Upper Cumberland Education Foundation, Putnam County Library, and the Public Housing Authority, to name a few of the organizations close to his heart. Always a mentor and a leader, Mr. Albrecht often took colleagues under his wing to help them learn and grow in their respective positions but also was known to lend a hand to get the job done. Ever the professional, he was commonly seen as a role model in business as well as life. He was a long-time Rotarian and enjoyed his fellowship at First United Methodist Church, especially the Wesley Sunday school class. Mr. Albrecht greatly enjoyed playing golf, traveling, and spending quality time with family and friends. Most will remember his welcoming smile and true gentlemanly way. Pallbearers are Bob Atkins, Bob Bell, Gary Cunard, Bob Duncan, Ron Fryar, Ken Fuller, Brad Gran, Chuck Hughes, Randal Petrie, Randy Porter, Allen Ray and Tom Wolfe. Honorary pallbearers are the Golden Eagle Golf Club dogfight group. Memorial contributions may be made to Putnam County Habitat for Humanity, 728 East 15th St., Cookeville, TN 38501 or the Cookeville First United Methodist Church Early Response Team, 165 East Broad St., Cookeville, TN 38501. Hooper Huddleston and Horner Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements. (931) 526-6111. You may share your thoughts and memories at www.hhhfunerals.com.