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. V.F.W. 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.