Obituary
Ishpeming – Paul "Joe" Perrault, age 85, of 230 E. Bluff St. Ishpeming passed away on Thursday July 29, 2010 at his home while in the loving care of family and the Lake Superior Hospice.
Joe was born December 3, 1924 in Green Bay, WI the son of the late Joseph and Bernadette (Giguere) Perrault. He was a lifelong Ishpeming resident and a graduate of the Ishpeming High School, Class of 1942. Joe served in the United States Army in the 10th Mountain Division during World War II in Northern Italy, and was the recipient of the Silver Star. He returned to Ishpeming in December of 1945. Joe had worked for the Cleveland Cliffs Iron Co. at various properties including the research lab, Eagle Mills, and retired from the Empire Mine as assistant General Foreman in the pit. He was a member of the St. Joseph Catholic Church, a United States National Ski Hall of Fame inductee, and U.P. Sports Hall of Fame inductee, and a member of the Ishpeming Knights of Columbus #1541 and the Ishpeming Elks Club #447.
Joe will be remembered as the "Ultimate Family Man", always enjoying family gatherings and supporting them any way he could. He was a two-time United States Olympian in Ski-Jumping, in 1948 he was in St. Moritz, Switzerland, and was injured just prior to the 1952 games in Oslo, Norway. Of his most notable ski-jumping accomplishments, breaking the distance record twice in the same day at Pine Mountain in 1949 was always a highlight for Joe. He loved to play the trumpet and did so with the Ishpeming City Band, Negaunee City Band and the Ishpeming Alumni Band. He was an avid golfer, bowler, potato peeler for pasties, and outdoorsman.
Survivors include his wife of 61 years Barbara Perrault of Ishpeming whom he married on May 7, 1949 in Ashland, WI; 2 daughters – Mary Jo Moore of Newberry and Kathryn (Art) Gischia of Ishpeming, a son Paul (Janet) Perrault of Ishpeming, a sister Adele Harnett of Ishpeming, a brother Ray (Carol) Perrault of Ishpeming, a sister-in-law – Rita Perrault of Negaunee, 8 grandchildren – Kristin Wilson, Scott (Rachel) Gischia, Amy Perrault, Brad (Kathy) Gischia, Sarah (T.J.) Derwin, Kimberly Gischia, Jessica Koehs and Christopher Koehs, 6 great grandchildren – Ashley Wilson, Aili, Eric, Robert and Jareth Gischia and Adeline Derwin, along with several nieces and nephews. He was preceded in by his parents, a brother Clifford "Pito" Perrault, and a brother-in-law – Ken Harnett.
The family will greet relatives and friends from 9:00am – 11:00am on Saturday July 31, 2010 at the St. Joseph Catholic Church in Ishpeming where military honors will be provided by the Vietnam Veterans of America Chapter #380 at 10:45am. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 11:00am on Saturday at the St. Joseph Catholic Church with the Rev. Fr. James Challancin to officiate. Inurnment will take place at the Ishpeming Cemetery.
Honorary pallbearers will be members of the Negaunee City Band.
Memorials may be directed to the Lake Superior Hospice or the Negaunee City Band in Joe's memory.
Joe was born December 3, 1924 in Green Bay, WI the son of the late Joseph and Bernadette (Giguere) Perrault. He was a lifelong Ishpeming resident and a graduate of the Ishpeming High School, Class of 1942. Joe served in the United States Army in the 10th Mountain Division during World War II in Northern Italy, and was the recipient of the Silver Star. He returned to Ishpeming in December of 1945. Joe had worked for the Cleveland Cliffs Iron Co. at various properties including the research lab, Eagle Mills, and retired from the Empire Mine as assistant General Foreman in the pit. He was a member of the St. Joseph Catholic Church, a United States National Ski Hall of Fame inductee, and U.P. Sports Hall of Fame inductee, and a member of the Ishpeming Knights of Columbus #1541 and the Ishpeming Elks Club #447.
Joe will be remembered as the "Ultimate Family Man", always enjoying family gatherings and supporting them any way he could. He was a two-time United States Olympian in Ski-Jumping, in 1948 he was in St. Moritz, Switzerland, and was injured just prior to the 1952 games in Oslo, Norway. Of his most notable ski-jumping accomplishments, breaking the distance record twice in the same day at Pine Mountain in 1949 was always a highlight for Joe. He loved to play the trumpet and did so with the Ishpeming City Band, Negaunee City Band and the Ishpeming Alumni Band. He was an avid golfer, bowler, potato peeler for pasties, and outdoorsman.
Survivors include his wife of 61 years Barbara Perrault of Ishpeming whom he married on May 7, 1949 in Ashland, WI; 2 daughters – Mary Jo Moore of Newberry and Kathryn (Art) Gischia of Ishpeming, a son Paul (Janet) Perrault of Ishpeming, a sister Adele Harnett of Ishpeming, a brother Ray (Carol) Perrault of Ishpeming, a sister-in-law – Rita Perrault of Negaunee, 8 grandchildren – Kristin Wilson, Scott (Rachel) Gischia, Amy Perrault, Brad (Kathy) Gischia, Sarah (T.J.) Derwin, Kimberly Gischia, Jessica Koehs and Christopher Koehs, 6 great grandchildren – Ashley Wilson, Aili, Eric, Robert and Jareth Gischia and Adeline Derwin, along with several nieces and nephews. He was preceded in by his parents, a brother Clifford "Pito" Perrault, and a brother-in-law – Ken Harnett.
The family will greet relatives and friends from 9:00am – 11:00am on Saturday July 31, 2010 at the St. Joseph Catholic Church in Ishpeming where military honors will be provided by the Vietnam Veterans of America Chapter #380 at 10:45am. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 11:00am on Saturday at the St. Joseph Catholic Church with the Rev. Fr. James Challancin to officiate. Inurnment will take place at the Ishpeming Cemetery.
Honorary pallbearers will be members of the Negaunee City Band.
Memorials may be directed to the Lake Superior Hospice or the Negaunee City Band in Joe's memory.
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