Joseph Masek was born in Cleveland, Ohio, July 19, 1895. He came to Geddes, SD, with his parents at age 14. At age 16 he returned to Cleveland and stayed with an uncle. He obtained a job as a milkman. He soon returned to the farm, however, to help his father who was in poor health. Thomas, his father, suffered from an asthma condition.

At Geddes, Joe met and married Rose Lunak. To that union were born four children, Victor, Lillian, Charlie, and Fred. Lillian died a few weeks after birth.

Joe had problems with his digestive system. Numerous trips were made to the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, MN, for treatment of ulcers and other ailments. The Mayo Clinic had a special program in which patients paid what they could depending on their financial status. This was good fortune for the Masek family which was far from rich.

During one Mayo journey, Joe underwent surgery to remove part of his stomach. Complications arose and his abdomen became swollen. Doctors diagnosed his condition as rare and without a definite cure. He was given an experimental treatment consisting of a brown pill inserted under his left shoulder blade and sent home. In a few weeks his health improved. Doctors at the Mayo Clinic were delighted at the prospect of having discovered a new cure. Joe always said he felt like he had been used as a guinea pig.

Joe was advised to eat rabbit meat to ease his ulcers. He eventually went into rabbit-raising in a bigger way and sold some dressed rabbits to grocery stores and to others who had learned to like the taste of this meat.