Earl J. 'Jello' Brackett

PENCE, Wis. - Earl J. "Jello" Brackett, 91, lifelong Pence resident, passed away Tuesday, Sept. 19, 2017, peacefully at his home.

He was born June 11, 1926, in Pence, to the late John Brackett and Helmi Mandelin Brackett. He attended the Pence school from grades K-8 and graduated from J.E. Murphy High School in Hurley. He then served in the U.S. Army and spent two years in Europe during World War II. After the war, he worked at the Montreal Mine for a year before going into business with his father. Together they logged in the winter; excavated and hauled gravel in the summer.

On May 20, 1950, he married Gloria Sullivan at St. Mary Magdalene Church in Iron Belt. She preceded him in death on Oct. 25, 2008.

In 1975, he and his son, John, established the Brackett Gravel Crushing business which is still operating today. He was elected chairman of the town of Pence for 18 years. His family lovingly called him the Energizer Bunny, because he never seemed to stop and "Work" was his middle name.

He is survived by his son, John, of Pence, and daughter-in-law, Debbie; two daughters and sons-in-law, Beth and Jim McKeague, of Morrison, Colo., and Jane Brackett and Ed Brady, of Pulaski; four grandchildren; four step grandchildren; six great-grandchildren; eight step great-grandchildren; his sister, Jean "Lolly" Vandevoorde, of Pence; and several nieces and nephews.

In addition to his parents and wife, Earl was predeceased by his siblings, Doris Zandi, Gordon Brackett and Elaine Glaser.

A memorial service will be held at McKevitt-Patrick Funeral Home in Ironwood, Mich., on Saturday, Oct. 14, 2017. Visitation begins at 9:30 a.m. with services officiated by Regional Hospice Chaplain Stephen Russell at 11 a.m.

Inurnment will follow in St. Mary's Cemetery, Hurley, where full  military honors will be accorded by the combined Hurley American Legion Post 58, Iron County VFW Post 1580 and Vietnam Veterans of America, Gogebic-Iron Range Chapter 529 Honor Guard.

In lieu of flowers, because of Earl's love for children, the family requests that you make donations to a children's event or charity of your choice.

Arrangements have been entrusted to McKevitt-Patrick Funeral Home and Cremation Services of Ironwood. To view Earl's obituary online, sign the guestbook and express condolences, visit mckevittpatrickfuneralhome.com.

Thank you to those who cared for Earl over the past two years from Villa Maria, where he went to have his "batteries recharged," Avanti Home Health and Regional Hospice Services. He was truly grateful for the relationships he developed with each of you.