Joseph Clyde Chartrand, age 82, passed away at the
Iron Mountain V.A. Nursing home on Wednesday,
November 19, 2008. He was born in Munising on April
28, 1926, son of the late Lucille Marie (LaCasse)
and Adolph Chartrand. Joe was a member of Sacred
Heart Church and attended Sacred Heart School and
Wm. G. Mather High School. He enlisted in the U.S.
Navy on December 28, 1941 after the attack on Pearl
Harbor at the age of fifteen. He served on the U.S.S.
Humphrey APD-12. On February 29, 1944, under fire
while landing at Los Negros on Boat 2, a Japanese
sniper fired from the trees and struck him in the
chest. Joe managed to get the ramp lowered so the
men of the 1st Calvary could hit the beach, he then
passed out. Thanks to his buddy, Bill Pearce, he was
transported to the U.S.S. Bush for medical help. Joe
received the Purple Heart, Bronze Star, American and
Asiatic Pacific Campaign Ribbons, the Philippine
Liberation Ribbon, Okinawa 1 Star with two bronze
battle stars, and the WWII Victory Ribbon. He served
3 years, 9 months, and 21 days. Joe was honorably
discharged on October 18, 1945. He came back to
Munising and married his wife, Joyce Doucette and
together they had seven children. They moved to
Flint where he attended Barber School. Years later,
Joe was hired by GM Buick. He retired from Buick as
Assembly Utility Man and Union Rep in 1976. Joe came
back to Munising and lived with his mother. He loved
baseball and played some semi-pro ball and bowled
most of his live. Joe played bridge and became Life
Master American Contract Bridge member in 1981. He
was a member of the Knights of Columbus, played
cribbage with his brother-in-law, Joe Monette. Joe
was a life member of the American Legion 131 and
also managed the Legion. He was on the Munising City
Commission with his lifelong friend, Chum Steinhoff,
served as the Mayor of Munising, and was a member of
the D.A.V. In his later years, Joe was introduced to
Bingo by his brother-in-law, Gerald Robinson.
Joe is survived by his daughters – Karen
Chartrand of Flushing, Kathleen (Miles)
Williams of Cary, NC, Rhonda (Mike) Sadak of
Munising, Luanne Smith and Trudy Vannaman of
Niceville, FL; sons – Hal (Becky) Chartrand
of St. Petersburg, FL and Dan Chartrand of
Munising; seventeen grandchildren; seventeen
great-grandchildren; sisters – Clarice
(Pappy) Martin and Dorothy Robinson of
Marquette; aunt – Muriel (Tom) Pawielski of
Munising; uncles – David Draze of Washington
and Paul Chartrand of Arizona. Joe was also
preceded in death by his brother Adolph
Chartrand, nephew Tom Chartrand, and
brothers-in-law – Earl Martin and Gerald
Robinson.
A Memorial Service for Joe will be
announced some time in July.
Thanks to good neighbor Jack
Witty, cousin Geri Grimes
and Leonard for being there
for our Dad and taking his
dogs, Buddy and Mitzi. Also
a younger friend through
bowling Cliff Noble,
everyone at the Iron
Mountain Nursing Home for
your Tendercare and
thoughtfulness, and the nice
visits and prayers from Rev.
Msgr. James Kaczmarek.
