Joan Rae Bolich

DULUTH, Minn. - Joan Rae Bolich, 78, a longtime resident of Hurley, Wis., passed away peacefully Sunday, May 25, 2014, at Essentia Health-St. Mary's Medical Center in Duluth.

Joan was born July 12, 1935, in Hurley, to the late Leonard and Josephine (Gudleski) Tilton. She attended St. Mary's Grade School and received her general education degree from Luther L. Wright High School in Ironwood, Mich. She then worked in Colorado Springs, Colo., and Stevens Point, Wis.

Joan married Casmir Zeleski on Sept. 11, 1954, at St. Peter's Catholic Church in Stevens Point. After his accidental death in 1962, Joan moved back to Hurley with her daughters, living on Germania Hill with her mother and family. She married Jerome "Jerry" Bolich in 1967.

She was a member of St. Mary's Catholic Church in Hurley and was a devoted wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, aunt and friend to many. Joan enjoyed time with family and friends. She loved the northwoods forests and lakes along with cooking, flower gardens, house plants and viewing birds and animals in the yard. She had a deep faith and strong spirit.

Joan is survived by her husband, Jerome "Jerry"; children, Marie (Rick) Swartz, Margaret (Kurt) Krall and Daniel (Jessica) Bolich; grandchildren, Brock (Natalie) Swartz, Farah (Scott) Erickson, Brandon Swartz, Wendy Krall, Tabitha Krall, Daniel Bolich Jr. and Kassidy Bolich; great-grandchildren, Bryan and Brant Swartz and Talia and Brodie Erickson; brother, Ken (Jane) Tilton; mother-in-law, Wanda Bolich; sisters-in-law, Jane Tilton and Sister Loretta Zelewski; and brother-in-law, Don (Mary Ann) Bolich. Joan loved her nieces and nephews, including survivors Ken Jr., Douglas, Jim, Steve, Diane, Richard, Paul, Rae Ann, Jack, Allan (Sue), Colleen, Doreen, Carol, Bill (Pam), Guy, Terry, Linda, Mike, Cheryl, Suzie, David, Kelly, Casey, David, Billy and Barbara; and numerous great-nieces and great-nephews.

Besides her parents and first husband, Joan was preceded in death by an infant sister, Corrine Faith; brothers- and sisters-in-law, Carroll and Evelyn Tilton, Leonard and Rose Tilton, Jack and Delores Tilton, Bill and Rose Tilton, and Gene Tilton; niece, Bonnie Tilton, in 1965; nephew, Lenny Tilton, in 1991; father-in-law, Barney Zeleski; sister- and brother-in-law, Chry and Chet Stanislawski; brother-in-law, Leonard Zeleski; nephew, Michael Stanislawski; father-in-law, John Bolich Sr .; and brother- and sister-in-law, John and Elaine Bolich.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated Friday, May 30, at 11 a.m., preceded by visitation at 10 a.m., at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Hurley, with the Rev. Frank Kordek OFM, celebrant.

Rite of Committal and interment will follow in St. Mary's Cemetery, Hurley.

Luncheon will be served in the parish hall immediately upon return from the cemetery.

Pallbearers will be Bill Tilton Sr., Bill Tilton Jr., Jimmy Tilton, Paul Tilton, Mark Cayer, Kurt Krall and Brock Swartz.

In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred to Aspirus Grand View Hospital, N10561 Grand View Lane, Ironwood MI 49938, for the new addition.

To view Joan's obituary online, sign her guestbook or offer condolences, visit mckevittpatrickfuneralhome.com.

Arrangements have been entrusted to McKevitt-Patrick Funeral Home Inc., Ironwood.

Thank you to all the health care providers who cared for Joan and family.