Joseph Zanoni, Jr.

NORWAY, MI- Joseph Zanoni, Jr., 86, of Norway, passed into eternal life Thursday, January 3, 2002, at his home after a brief illness.

Joe was born on September 22, 1915 in Cloz, Austria (now Italy). He was the son of the late Joseph and Florence (Luchi) Zanoni. Joe immigrated to Melrose Park, Illinois, in 1928 with his family. He married Catherine Zanolini on October 4, 1941 in Hazleton, Pennsylvania. He was in the US Army in WWII, serving in Europe and Africa. After the war, he built Zanoni's Big Pine Resort at Hamilton Lakes in Waucedah Township. In 1994, he and his wife, Catherine, moved to Norway, Michigan.

He devoted his life to the support of his family and church, and was an active leader in many organizations. As a young man, he organized the Frassati Club of the Altar boys. He became a member of the Holy Name Society in 1931 and was its President and Vice-President. He was a member of the St. Vincent De Paul Society, and the Third Order of St. Francis. He has been an active member of the Knights of Columbus since 1937, taking the 4th degree in 1940. He organized and was the past President of the Catholic War Veterans Post #478. He was an active member of the Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Feast Committee from 1935 to 1994 and President from 1987 to 1994. He was a member of the Italian Cultural Center in Stone Park, IL.

Joe wrote the bylaws for the International Tirolian Trentino Organization of North America. He was a founding member of the Italio American Labor Council of Chicago in July 22, 1966. He is a past president of the Trentino Chinese Mission League. He has also been an active member of the Trentino Alpine Club of Chicago and was a past Secretary and the President for many years. He was an active member and past President and the Assistant Field Director in Chicago, of the Italian Catholic Federation. He was a member of the I.C.F. Central Council from 1978 to 1991. He was appointed Delegate to the Consulta - Provincia Autonoma Di Trento for 5 years representing the Trentino people in the U.S.A. 

Joe worked as a millwright at the Richardson Company in Melrose Park, Illinois from 1944 until their closing in 1963, where he was a member and steward of the United Rubber Workers Union. From 1963 to his retirement in 1985, Joe was employed by the United Rubber Workers (U.R.W.) as an International Representative in Servicing and Organizing. 

Joe was a member of Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Catholic Church in Melrose Park, Illinois for many years. He became a member of St. Barbara's Catholic Church in Vulcan, Michigan when they moved there in 1994. He also regularly attended St. Mary's Catholic Church in Norway, Michigan.

Survivors include his wife, Catherine; six daughters, Josephine (Frank) Jozwiak of Arlington Heights, Illinois, Florence (Rick) Redman of Hinsdale, Illinois, Mary Zanoni and John H. Louis of Lawrence, Kansas, Miriam (Bill) Baciak, and Patricia (David) Pollard of Norway, Theresa (Michael) DeGroot of Marshfield, Wisconsin; six sons, Michael (Valeria) Zanoni and James Zanoni of Norway, Joseph E. (Carol) Zanoni, of Carrollton, Texas, Pier-George (Brenda) Zanoni of St. Johns, Michigan, Albert Zanoni and John V. Zanoni of Hamilton Lakes; thirty-one grandchildren; four great-grandchildren; one brother Dr. Bonfiglio (Lorraine) Zanoni; three sisters-in-law, Pia (Serafino) Zanoni, Marge (Victor) Zanoni, Mary (Mario) Zanoni and numerous nephews and nieces.

He was preceded in death by an infant son, Anthony; three sisters, infant Miriam, Paulina Rauzi, and Sister Miriam Therese, C.S.J.; four brothers, Serafino, Victor, Mario, and Rev. Silvio Zanoni, C.S.; and a very special brother-in-law, Joseph Rauzi.

Visitation will be held on Sunday, January 6 from 4 to 8 p.m. at the Miner Funeral Home in Norway, Michigan. Special Services Sunday night, Rosary will be at 5:30 p.m. and Parish Prayers will be at 7 p.m. Prayer Services will be held on Monday, January 7 at 10:30 a.m. at the Miner Funeral Home.

The Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 11 a.m. on Monday, at St. Barbara's Church in Vulcan with Fr. William Callari officiating, his nephew Fr. John Zanoni and Fr. Mark McQuesten of St. Mary’s Church will be concelebrating.

Interment will follow at the Norway Township Cemetery.