Joseph "Joe" Telich

Joseph (Joe) Telich, age 96, left us on December 11, 2018 at Care Free Living in Ely, Minnesota. He was born in Ely on September 16, 1922
at Shipman Hospital to Frank and Jeannie Telich. He is survived by his wife Florence of Ely, daughter Jo Ann Erickson of Le Bugue, France, sister Katherine Lenich of Ely, sister Jean Vasicek of Florida, nephew Matt Smrekar of Ely and numerous other nieces and nephews.

Joe enlisted in the United States Marine Corps in 1942 and was attached to the 4th Marine Division. He first saw action in the Marshall Islands where he was wounded and received the Purple Heart. He later joined another Division in which he continued the fight on Saipan, Tinian and then Iwo Jima.

After the war, he met Florence Zitko in Cleveland at a "Minnesota Gopher Club". They fell in love, married in 1949 and in 1955 moved back to Ely.

Starting from a young age, Joe developed and continued to have as an adult a love of all that was the north woods. From fishing and hunting to hiking and picking berries, his life was always filled with these activities which he so enjoyed.

He worked at Reserve Mining and retired in 1984. He was a member of the local American Legion, Veteran's of Foreign Wars and St. Anthony's Catholic Church.

Family arrangements entrusted to Kerntz Funeral Home.
 

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