Harry Joseph 'Joe' Albright III

EWEN, Mich. - Harry Joseph "Joe" Albright III passed away in his home at Ewen on Jan. 19, 2014.

Joe was born Oct. 1, 1946, in Ontonagon, to Mary (Moll) and Harry Albright Jr., of Bruce Crossing. Joe grew up in the Ewen schools and attended the University of Wisconsin in Superior for one year on a wrestling scholarship.

Joe enlisted in the Marine Corps in January 1966 and served three years, attaining the rank of sergeant, and volunteered for two tours of duty in Vietnam. He lived for a short time in Detroit after his discharge, working for Goodyear Tire Co. His heart was still in the U.P., and he moved back to work in the White Pine Copper Mine.

Eventually, Joe went back to college and attended Gogebic Community College, graduating with a degree in parks and recreation. He worked for the U.S. Forest Service in Bessemer for four years and then pursued the building trades. He became a journeyman ironworker and was employed from 1979 to 2001, being known on the job as "Sulo."

On June 22, 1974, Joe was united in marriage to Susan "Sue" Snyder in Minneapolis. They settled in Wakefield, where Sue worked as a dental hygienist for several local dentists. In 1981, after several moves, Joe and Sue settled back in Ewen, where they bought the "Sue Line." "The Mercantile" served Ontonagon County from 1984 to 2003.

Joe was an avid outdoorsman, enjoying hunting, trapping, fishing, camping and his cabin on the South Branch River. He pursued indoor archery competitively for several years, winning the state championship with his traditional bow the year the tournament was held in the O'Rourke Hall in Ewen. He was very active in organizations promoting the outdoors, including Whitetails Unlimited, Ducks Unlimited, the Ontonagon Valley Sportsmen's Club, Sucker Creek Range and Ewen Archery League. He also enjoyed golf and had a special love of poetry. Robert Service was probably his favorite poet.

Joe's pride and joy were his daughters and grandchildren. Joe is survived by his parents, Mary and Harry Albright Jr., of Ewen; his wife, Sue; his daughter, Allison Wiggins (Cory); his daughter, Elizabeth Sigsworth (Shawn); grandchildren, Logan, Mary, Zack, Tim and Michael; sisters, Terri Gustavson (Jon), Kathy Davis (Ted), Gig Avromov and Peggy Galvin (Hal); uncle, Carl, and aunt, Rainy Moll; aunt, Sally McGuire; uncle, Wally Jambeck; and many cousins, nieces and nephews.

Memorial services will be held at First Lutheran in Ewen on Thursday, July 3, with visitation at noon EDT and service at 1 p.m.

Immediately following, interment with full military honors will take place at Maple Grove Cemetery south of Bruce Crossing.

Returning from the cemetery, lunch will be served at First Lutheran Church in Ewen.

For anyone who would like to share their photos during the visitation at the church, bulletin boards will be available.

Range Funeral Service and Crematory, Frick-Zielinski Funeral Home is assisting the family.