Arthur Joseph "Joe" Monette, Jr.

Munising

Arthur Joseph “Joe” Monette, Jr., age 90, of Munising, died Sunday, July 30, 2017 at his home under the loving care of his family and North Woods Home Hospice.  He was born in Munising on August 17, 1926 to the late Arthur Joseph and Stella (Barrows) Monette.  Joe graduated from Sacred Heart School in Munising and then left high school his senior year to join the United States Navy and serve in WWII.  Joe served aboard the USS Saratoga which was in three battles while he was in the South West Pacific Area in the Asiatic-Pacific Theater.  Joe was honorably discharged in March of 1946 as a Seaman First Class and was awarded WWII Victory Medal, American Area Campaign Medal and Asiatic Pacific Area Campaign Medal with three stars.

On June 24, 1950, Joe married Carol June Doucette and together they started their family.  After the birth of their twins, Carol told Joe “You can either learn how to cook or learn how to change diapers.”  This was the start of Joe’s love of cooking.  He loved cooking for family, friends, and at the Knights of Columbus Hall, sharing his soups, potato salad, and his famous coleslaw.  Joe worked at the Munising Paper Mill and was a life member of the AFL-CIO.  He was a machine operator on a number of machines and finished his career as the #18 saturator operator when he retired from Kimberly Clark in 1988 after over thirty-seven years of service.  Joe was a member of Sacred Heart Church, Knights of Columbus #2804, American Legion Post #131, and the V.F.W.

Joe stayed very active.  In his younger years he ski jumped, played for the Munising Coals Baseball team and slow pitch softball for the Dogpatch team, and then coached little league baseball for Burns’ Department Store.  As he got older, Joe continued to bowl, cut grass and shovel snow for himself and neighbors, swimming in his pool, and if you had a chance to play cribbage with him, you may have heard “I haven’t won a game in ten years.” right before he beat you.  Joe was an avid Michigan sports fan.  He rarely missed a Tigers, Lions, Pistons, Red Wings, or U of M game.  Joe loved his grand and great-grandchildren and was a bit of an instigator.  Joe was recently asked what his favorite hobby was, he simply replied “Being with my family.”

He is survived by his children Jim (Kim) Monette of Munising, Judy (Joe) Pavlica of Lansing, Durae (Tim) Tiernan, of Munising, Brenda (Robert “Beas”) Beasley of Las Vegas, and Dana (Robin) Monette of Williamston, MI;  grandchildren – Stephanie Stewart, Joe Monette, Chad (Lindsey) Nichols, Mistie Nichols, Desirae (Clint Chahoy) Nichols, Brook Pavlica, Ciera Pavlica, Stacy (Wayne) Brock, Amy (Mark) Hamilla, Troy (Amanda) Tiernan, Damon Bowerman, Wes Bowerman, Shea Lyn Bowerman, Cassie Jo Monette, Natalie Johnson, Jayme (Chris) Armour, and Dylan Monette; twenty great-grandchildren; brother Don Monette of Williamston; and numerous nieces and nephews.  Joe was preceded in death by his parents Art and Stella, wife Carol, infant son Michael, sisters Jean Monette and Ruth Ann (Jim) Cox; and sister-in-law Pat Monette.

A Memorial Mass will be celebrated on Friday, August 4, 2017, by Fr. Chris Gardner at Sacred Heart Church in Munising at 12:10 p.m.  Interment will be at the Maple Grove Cemetery where the American Legion and Vietnam Veterans Honor Guard will conduct military honors.  In lieu of flowers, memorials in Joe’s name may be made to Alger County Commission on Aging.  Joe’s family would like thank to his “Special Girls” from Commission on Aging for the care they provided.