North Lake - Joseph J. Giotto, age 91, of 1055 N. Westwood Dr., North Lake Location, passed away, March 5, 2009, at Bell Hospital.

Joseph was born April 18, 1917 in Negaunee to Peter & Rose Giotto. He worked as an underground miner for 27 years for Inland Steel at the Morris Mine and also worked 20 years as a guard at the Marquette Branch Prison. Joe was a member of the former St. Pius X Catholic Church and currently a member of St. Joseph Catholic Church. Joe was a retiree of the Ishpeming Township Volunteer Fire Department.

Joe is survived by his wife of 69 years, Irene (Gischia) Giotto, 3 children: Richard (Carole) Giotto, JoAnn (Jerry) Albertson, and Joe (Sharon) Giotto all of Ishpeming, 3 sisters: Maria Voet of Marquette, Nellie Gable of Marquette and Ida Medlyn of Bloomington, IN, 2 brothers: Bruno Giotto of Negaunee and Charlie (Priscilla) Giotto of Negaunee, 7 grandchildren, 8 great grandchildren and numerous nieces & nephews. Joe was preceded in death by his parents and 2 sisters Jean Hocking and Julia Giotto at age 16.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 3:00PM on Sunday March 8, 2009 at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Ishpeming with Fr. Greg Heikkala officiating. Interment will take place in the Negaunee Cemetery.

Friends may call at St. Joseph Catholic Church on Sunday from 1:00PM until the time of service at 3:00PM

Pallbearers will be Joseph's grandsons Thomas Estes, Michael, Bryan, & Joey Giotto, and great grandsons, Tony and Steve Pope. Honorary pallbearers will be members of the Ishpeming Township Fire Department.

Memorials may be directed to St. Joseph's Catholic Church at 1889 Prairie St. Ishpeming, MI 49849.