Marquette, MI- Joseph F. "Joe" Valente, age 81, Marquette resident and longtime Ishpeming resident passed away on Tuesday, May 23, 2023, at the Marquette County Medical Care Facility, (Frank S. Valente Building) while in the loving care of his family, staff at MCMCF and Lake Superior Life Care and Hospice.

Joseph was born in Ishpeming, Michigan on January 27, 1942, a son of the late Frank S. and Cecelia T (Sarvello) Valente. He graduated from St. John's Grade School in 1955, Ishpeming High School in 1959, Northern Michigan University in 1969 with a degree in Economics and obtained his master's degree in management from Aquinas College in Grand Rapids in 1983.

Joe owned and operated Jo-Jo's Bar in Negaunee in the 1960's and then he went to work for Heath Survey Consultants in Boston, MA. He worked as a claims representative and an agent for State Farm Insurance Company in Flint, MI. He later went to work for the Michigan Department of Transportation as a highway planner and later as a project manager for the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. Joe retired after 30 years with M-DOT.

Joe was a charter Board member of the Engineer and Scientific Union, was a member of the Marquette Range Engineer's Club, and past president of the U.P. Road Builders Association. In 2007 Joe was appointed to the Marquette County Road Commission and while serving as commissioner he was elected to the Michigan County Road Commission Self-Insurance Pool Board of Directors. He greatly enjoyed his association with these groups.

Joe was the past president of the Ishpeming Rotary Club, a member of St. Rocco's Society, Paisano Club of Ishpeming and Negaunee, member of the Marquette Golf Club, American Legion Post 44 of Marquette, Knight of Columbus of Harvey, and a member of St. Louis the King Catholic Church in Harvey.

Joe was passionate about his family and he greatly enjoyed time with his children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren. All of their events and accomplishments brought him great joy and such a sense of pride. He was proud of his Italian heritage and his hometown of Ishpeming. Joe loved people and was such a conversationalist and storyteller. If he met you once and shook your hand, you were a friend. He enjoyed his road commission buddies, his morning coffee crew, and all those who enjoyed a round of golf with him. He was a presence who will be missed by all of those who knew him and loved him.

Joseph is survived by his loving wife, Judy (Couveau) Valente, two daughters; Elizabeth (Claude) Wight, and Jennifer (Eric) Wills, four sisters; Rose Strom, Clara Kutchie, Evelyn Valente-Heikkila, and Mary (Eugene) Tasson, a stepdaughter, Jill (Tim) Weingarten, a stepson, Rob Hanson,grandchildren; Ashley (Dan Finnigan) Wight, Chase (Elise) Wight, Spencer (Jazmine) Cummings, Brennen (Chloe) Cummings, Adam (Hannah) Weingarten, Cullen Hanson, Declan Hanson, great grandchildren; Luca and Cecelia Cummings, Bennett Wight, Liam and Jude Weingarten, Molly Finnigan, sisters-in-law; Joan Witte, Jean Mosley, June Mackus, Amy (Bill) Dale, brothers-in-law; Joe (Sandy) Couveau, Jeff (Barb) Couveau, and Donald Antonetti along with numerous nieces, nephews, and cousins.

Joe was preceded in death by his Parents, a sister Fran Valente, son-in-law Eric Cummings, 2 grandchildren; Angela Reichel and Cooper Wight, brothers- in-law; Knut Strom, Allen Kutchie, Bill Burke, Gilbert Witte, Bill Larch, Paul Machus, Skip Mosley, Peter Mackus, John Couveau, and sisters-in-law; Janet Larch, Mary Couveau, and Nancy Antonetti.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Friday, July 28, 2023, at 11:00 am at St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church with Fr. Ryan Ford officiating. Visitation will be held at St. John's from 9:00 am to 11:00 am.

A luncheon will follow at St. Joseph Catholic Church fellowship hall.

Interment will take place at the Ishpeming Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers memorial considerations may be directed to St. Louis the King Catholic Church in Harvey, St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church in Ishpeming, or the Marquette County Medical Care Facility in Ishpeming in memory of Joe Valente.

Joe's obituary may be viewed at bjorkandzhulkie.com.