Obituary for Joseph P. Kuker
Joseph P. Kuker, 89, of 223 S.
Curry St., Ironwood, died peacefully Friday, Aug. 26, 2011, at Aspirus Wausau
Hospital in Wausau, surrounded by his loving family.
He was born Oct. 17, 1921, in Ironwood, son of
the late Peter and Anna (Marincic) Kuker of Croatian, German and Austrian
heritage. He attended Newport Grade School, and graduated from Luther L. Wright
High School in 1940. While in high school, he excelled in track, basketball and
baseball, and was Senior Class president.
Joe entered the U.S. Army Air Force on Dec.
21, 1942, serving in Europe in the 318th Fighter Squadron, 325th Fighter Group
as a surgical technician, and was honorably discharged as a private first class
on Nov. 2, 1945.
Following his discharge, he returned to
Ironwood and attended Gogebic Community College for two years and Northland
College in Ashland for two years, where he received his teaching degree. He then
taught and coached in the Watersmeet School District for many years, and retired
as a correctional officer for the State of Michigan at Camp Ojibway in Marenisco
after 13 years of service in 1982. In his retirement, he bartended at the Brite
Spot for several years.
Joe was a 50-plus year member of Ironwood
American Legion Post 5 and Ironwood Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 1823. He
played softball for Rigoni's Inn for many years and golfed in the couples league
at Eagle Bluff Golf Club in Hurley. He was a former member of the Ironwood
Cribbage League and Holy Trinity Catholic Church in Ironwood. He also enjoyed
going to the casino.
Joe was a loving husband, father and
grandfather, and will be deeply missed.
On Dec. 19, 1950, he was married to the former
Doreen Treloar at Holy Trinity Catholic Church by the late Rev. Ambrose
Matejik. They celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary this past December.
Doreen survives.
Also surviving are two sons, Joe (Pam) and
Jim, and two daughters, Kristine Kuker and Cindy (Chuck) Vukovich, all of
Ironwood; six grandchildren, Kasey Kuker, Rochester, Minn., Julie Vukovich, San
Diego, Calif., Katie Kuker (Justin Brownell) and Nik Vukovich, both of Ironwood,
and Megan and Ashley Kuker, both of Oshkosh, Wis.; a brother-in-law, Pete
Petersen, Mesa, Ariz.; and numerous nieces and nephews.
Besides his parents, he was preceded in death
by two brothers, Peter and George "Red"; and four sisters, Marie Kuker, Kathryn
Kuker, Dorothy Rea and Annie Tarle.
Out of respect for Joe's wishes, cremation has
taken place.
Memorial services will be held Friday, Sept.
2, at 11:30 a.m., preceded by visitation beginning at 10 a.m., at the McKevitt-Patrick Funeral Home, 305 N. Lowell St.,
in Ironwood, with the Rev. Michael Hayden officiating.
Rite of Committal and inurnment will follow in
Riverside Cemetery, Ironwood, where full military honors will be accorded by the
Ironwood American Legion Post 5 Honor Guard.
Luncheon will be served at the Iron Nugget in
downtown Hurley immediately upon return from the cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred to
Ironwood American Legion Post 5.
To view Joe's obituary online, sign his
guestbook or express condolences, visit
mckevittpatrickfuneralhome.com.
Arrangements are entrusted to McKevitt-Patrick
Funeral Home and Cremation Services of Ironwood.
Curry St., Ironwood, died peacefully Friday, Aug. 26, 2011, at Aspirus Wausau
Hospital in Wausau, surrounded by his loving family.
He was born Oct. 17, 1921, in Ironwood, son of
the late Peter and Anna (Marincic) Kuker of Croatian, German and Austrian
heritage. He attended Newport Grade School, and graduated from Luther L. Wright
High School in 1940. While in high school, he excelled in track, basketball and
baseball, and was Senior Class president.
Joe entered the U.S. Army Air Force on Dec.
21, 1942, serving in Europe in the 318th Fighter Squadron, 325th Fighter Group
as a surgical technician, and was honorably discharged as a private first class
on Nov. 2, 1945.
Following his discharge, he returned to
Ironwood and attended Gogebic Community College for two years and Northland
College in Ashland for two years, where he received his teaching degree. He then
taught and coached in the Watersmeet School District for many years, and retired
as a correctional officer for the State of Michigan at Camp Ojibway in Marenisco
after 13 years of service in 1982. In his retirement, he bartended at the Brite
Spot for several years.
Joe was a 50-plus year member of Ironwood
American Legion Post 5 and Ironwood Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 1823. He
played softball for Rigoni's Inn for many years and golfed in the couples league
at Eagle Bluff Golf Club in Hurley. He was a former member of the Ironwood
Cribbage League and Holy Trinity Catholic Church in Ironwood. He also enjoyed
going to the casino.
Joe was a loving husband, father and
grandfather, and will be deeply missed.
On Dec. 19, 1950, he was married to the former
Doreen Treloar at Holy Trinity Catholic Church by the late Rev. Ambrose
Matejik. They celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary this past December.
Doreen survives.
Also surviving are two sons, Joe (Pam) and
Jim, and two daughters, Kristine Kuker and Cindy (Chuck) Vukovich, all of
Ironwood; six grandchildren, Kasey Kuker, Rochester, Minn., Julie Vukovich, San
Diego, Calif., Katie Kuker (Justin Brownell) and Nik Vukovich, both of Ironwood,
and Megan and Ashley Kuker, both of Oshkosh, Wis.; a brother-in-law, Pete
Petersen, Mesa, Ariz.; and numerous nieces and nephews.
Besides his parents, he was preceded in death
by two brothers, Peter and George "Red"; and four sisters, Marie Kuker, Kathryn
Kuker, Dorothy Rea and Annie Tarle.
Out of respect for Joe's wishes, cremation has
taken place.
Memorial services will be held Friday, Sept.
2, at 11:30 a.m., preceded by visitation beginning at 10 a.m., at the McKevitt-Patrick Funeral Home, 305 N. Lowell St.,
in Ironwood, with the Rev. Michael Hayden officiating.
Rite of Committal and inurnment will follow in
Riverside Cemetery, Ironwood, where full military honors will be accorded by the
Ironwood American Legion Post 5 Honor Guard.
Luncheon will be served at the Iron Nugget in
downtown Hurley immediately upon return from the cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred to
Ironwood American Legion Post 5.
To view Joe's obituary online, sign his
guestbook or express condolences, visit
mckevittpatrickfuneralhome.com.
Arrangements are entrusted to McKevitt-Patrick
Funeral Home and Cremation Services of Ironwood.