Ishpeming – Joseph P. "Jose" Suardini, age 83 of 1308 N. Third St., Ishpeming passed away at 2:30pm on Friday June 17, 2011 at the Marquette Co. Medical Care Facility in Ishpeming while under the loving care of his family and the Upper Peninsula Home Health and Hospice.


Joseph was born July 12, 1927 in New York, NY the son of the late Charles and Linda (Zambetti) Suardini. He moved back to Northern Italy as an infant with his family, prior to coming back to the United States at age 8, when his father took up employment in the local iron mines. In turn, Jose worked for the Cleveland Cliffs Iron Co. for 34 years retiring as a supervisor at the Tilden Mine.


Joseph was a member of the St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church, and a life member of the Ishpeming Elks Club #447. Jose enjoyed his walks around Ishpeming, often stopping at the Brownstone Club. He would read the newspaper daily to keep up on all that was going on and annually planted a flower garden and tended to his tomato plants. Cooking was a specialty of Jose, being the head chef at deer camp for many years.


Survivors include his wife of 58 years, Mary Lou Suardini, whom he married on Nov. 8, 1952 at St. John's Church, 5 children – Charles Joseph Suardini of Ishpeming, Michael (Vickie) Suardini of Ishpeming, Nancy (David) Coron of Ishpeming, Joseph (Rhonda) Suardini of Munising and Mary Jo (Michael) Bosio of Neenah, WI, a sister Mary (Jerry) Valenti of Ishpeming, a brother Peter (Janet) Suardini of Ishpeming, 16 grandchildren – Adrianne Suardini, Zachary Suardini, Linda Zhulkie, Michael Suardini, Jennifer Hill, David Coron, Crystal Coron, Nicholas Suardini, Sara Suardini, David Suardini, Kevin Suardini, Sherry Suardini, Charissa Johnson, Michael Bosio, Paul Bosio and Katherine Bosio, 7 great grandchildren, a great great grandson, along with numerous nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents and a son David John Suardini.

The family will greet relatives and friends from 4 until 6pm on Monday June 20, 2011 at the St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church in Ishpeming. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 6:00pm on Monday at St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church with the Rev. Fr. Greg Heikkala to officiate. Interment will take place at the Ishpeming Cemetery. A meal will follow the services in the K-D Hall at the church. Pallbearers will be Jose's grandsons.

The family would like to say a special thank you to the caregivers at Upper Peninsula Home Health and Hospice for the compassionate care they gave to Joe the past few weeks.