Joseph C. Maslanka Sr.

IRONWOOD, Mich. — Joseph C. Maslanka Sr., 78, of Montreal, Wis., died Sunday, Oct. 6, 2013, surrounded by his loving family, at Aspirus Grand View Hospital in Ironwood, following a courageous battle with cancer.

Joe was born Nov. 4, 1934, in Bessemer, son of the late Stanley and Bernice (Hlopek) Maslanka, and graduated from A.D. Johnston High School in 1952. He entered the U.S. Air Force on March 27, 1953, serving in England and Germany during the Korean War, and received the National Defense Service Medal and the Good Conduct Medal.

Following his honorable discharge as an airman first class on Jan. 25, 1957, Joe returned to the area and worked in the Penokee Mine and then spent 33 years at White Pine Copper Co., retiring in 1995.

He was a member of Our Lady of Peace Catholic Church in Ironwood and the former St. Michael’s Catholic Church, where he served as a lector. He was also a member of the Aurora Athletic Club in Ironwood.

Joe loved all sports, including the Green Bay Packers and Detroit Tigers, and especially enjoyed watching his children and grandchildren play, as he was their number one fan. He also thoroughly enjoyed dancing, especially polkas, loved the outdoors, and was a master of all trades. He was always willing to help anyone and everyone and will be dearly missed by all.

Joe was united in marriage to Patricia A. Revolinski on Aug. 21, 1957, at St. Agnes Catholic Church in Ashland, Wis. She preceded him in death on May 31, 2004.

Surviving are two sons, Joseph C. Jr., Ironwood Township, and David (Cindy), DePere, Wis .; two daughters, Kay (Joe) Leoni, Gile, Wis., and Carolyn (Michael) Mieloszyk, Ironwood Township; six grandchildren, Nicole (Alan) and Jessica Leoni, Ryan Maslanka, and Kathleen, Kristine and Michael Mieloszyk; one great-granddaughter, Vienna Lindquist; two brothers, Edward, Grand Rapids, and Walter (Dorothy), Bessemer; six sisters, Helen Stanczyk, Elgin, Ill., Kate (Bob) Metzner, Oconto Falls, Wis., Clare (Norb) Gross, Green Bay, Margie Taetch, Iron River, Mich., Irene Bonato, Ironwood, and Mary (Al) Sande, Pewaukee, Wis .; brothers- and sisters-in-law, Donald Revolinski, Coates, Minn., Ronald (Sally) Revolinski, Rosemount, Minn., Carol Greene, Phoenix, and Ellen Maslanka, Hurley, Wis .; and numerous nieces and nephews.

Besides his parents and wife, Joe was preceded in death by a brother, John, on Aug. 25, 1997.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated Thursday, Oct. 10, at 11 a.m., preceded by visitation in the St. Joseph Family Room at 9:30 a.m., at Our Lady of Peace Catholic Church in Ironwood, with the Rev. Robb Jurkovich, celebrant.

Rite of Committal and interment will follow in Hillcrest Cemetery, Bessemer, where full military honors will be accorded by the combined Hurley American Legion Post 58 and Iron Co. VFW Post 1580 Honor Guard.

Luncheon will be served at the Iron Nugget in downtown Hurley immediately upon return from the cemetery.

Pallbearers will be Joseph Maslanka Jr., David Maslanka, Michael Mieloszyk, Ryan Maslanka, Joe Leoni and Joe Maslanka.

Arrangements have been entrusted to McKevitt-Patrick Funeral Home Inc., Ironwood, where condolences may be given online at mckevittpatrickfuneralhome.com.