Joseph Edward Beland, 94, of Alpena passed away Friday, February 10, 2023, at home.
Joseph was born February 28, 1928, in Alpena to the late Joseph and Wilma (Diem) Beland. He served in the United States Army at the end of World War II in Korea. Joe graduated from college at Stout Institute in Menomonie, WI, with a BS in Industrial Education in 1953. After graduation, Joe and his wife Kay moved to Big Rapids where he taught Industrial Arts. He continued his graduate work in the summers to receive his MS in Industrial Education from Stout in 1957. He returned to Alpena with his family in 1962 and taught drafting and led the Industrial Arts department at Alpena High School, retiring in 1986. Joe especially enjoyed helping students develop their skills and also opened his classroom on Tuesday evenings for tutoring and for students to work on their projects. Over the rest of his life after retirement former students would often run into him around town and introduce themselves to express their appreciation for what they'd learned and how he helped guide them in their school and career choices.
Joe met the love of his life Kay (Kathryn Thurston) at college on a blind date and they were married in 1951 and married for over 71 years! Joe was a great father to three boys and he shared his hands-on skills with them that they all use today. Joe had a great sense of humor with a hint of occasional well-placed sarcasm. He was a member of First Congregational United Church of Christ, Optimist Club, and volunteer for Meals on Wheels. He enjoyed golfing, bowling, fishing, road trips and playing cards.
Surviving are his wife, Kathryn; three sons, Scott (partner Kathleen Massini) Beland, David (Janet) Beland, Steven (Fay Sato-Beland) Beland; five grandchildren, Drew (fiancée Sadie Rath) Beland, Sarah (partner Alex Hofstrand) Beland, Willow Brook, Andrew Beland, Patrick (Amanda) Huseonica; three great grandchildren, Carson, Kennedy, Quade; brother, David (Jean) Connon; several nieces and nephews.
Joe was preceded in death by his step father, Arthur Connon; siblings, Jean King, Shirley Timm, Floyd Connon, Barbara Hansen, William Connon, and Carol Gebauer.
Joseph was born February 28, 1928, in Alpena to the late Joseph and Wilma (Diem) Beland. He served in the United States Army at the end of World War II in Korea. Joe graduated from college at Stout Institute in Menomonie, WI, with a BS in Industrial Education in 1953. After graduation, Joe and his wife Kay moved to Big Rapids where he taught Industrial Arts. He continued his graduate work in the summers to receive his MS in Industrial Education from Stout in 1957. He returned to Alpena with his family in 1962 and taught drafting and led the Industrial Arts department at Alpena High School, retiring in 1986. Joe especially enjoyed helping students develop their skills and also opened his classroom on Tuesday evenings for tutoring and for students to work on their projects. Over the rest of his life after retirement former students would often run into him around town and introduce themselves to express their appreciation for what they'd learned and how he helped guide them in their school and career choices.
Joe met the love of his life Kay (Kathryn Thurston) at college on a blind date and they were married in 1951 and married for over 71 years! Joe was a great father to three boys and he shared his hands-on skills with them that they all use today. Joe had a great sense of humor with a hint of occasional well-placed sarcasm. He was a member of First Congregational United Church of Christ, Optimist Club, and volunteer for Meals on Wheels. He enjoyed golfing, bowling, fishing, road trips and playing cards.
Surviving are his wife, Kathryn; three sons, Scott (partner Kathleen Massini) Beland, David (Janet) Beland, Steven (Fay Sato-Beland) Beland; five grandchildren, Drew (fiancée Sadie Rath) Beland, Sarah (partner Alex Hofstrand) Beland, Willow Brook, Andrew Beland, Patrick (Amanda) Huseonica; three great grandchildren, Carson, Kennedy, Quade; brother, David (Jean) Connon; several nieces and nephews.
Joe was preceded in death by his step father, Arthur Connon; siblings, Jean King, Shirley Timm, Floyd Connon, Barbara Hansen, William Connon, and Carol Gebauer.
Joseph Edward Beland, 94, of Alpena passed away Friday, February 10, 2023, at home.
Joseph was born February 28, 1928, in Alpena to the late Joseph and Wilma (Diem) Beland. He served in the United States Army at the end of World War II in Korea. Joe graduated from college at Stout Institute in Menomonie, WI, with a BS in Industrial Education in 1953. After graduation, Joe and his wife Kay moved to Big Rapids where he taught Industrial Arts. He continued his graduate work in the summers to receive his MS in Industrial Education from Stout in 1957. He returned to Alpena with his family in 1962 and taught drafting and led the Industrial Arts department at Alpena High School, retiring in 1986. Joe especially enjoyed helping students develop their skills and also opened his classroom on Tuesday evenings for tutoring and for students to work on their projects. Over the rest of his life after retirement former students would often run into him around town and introduce themselves to express their appreciation for what they'd learned and how he helped guide them in their school and career choices.
Joe met the love of his life Kay (Kathryn Thurston) at college on a blind date and they were married in 1951 and married for over 71 years! Joe was a great father to three boys and he shared his hands-on skills with them that they all use today. Joe had a great sense of humor with a hint of occasional well-placed sarcasm. He was a member of First Congregational United Church of Christ, Optimist Club, and volunteer for Meals on Wheels. He enjoyed golfing, bowling, fishing, road trips and playing cards.
Surviving are his wife, Kathryn; three sons, Scott (partner Kathleen Massini) Beland, David (Janet) Beland, Steven (Fay Sato-Beland) Beland; five grandchildren, Drew (fiancée Sadie Rath) Beland, Sarah (partner Alex Hofstrand) Beland, Willow Brook, Andrew Beland, Patrick (Amanda) Huseonica; three great grandchildren, Carson, Kennedy, Quade; brother, David (Jean) Connon; several nieces and nephews.
Joe was preceded in death by his step father, Arthur Connon; siblings, Jean King, Shirley Timm, Floyd Connon, Barbara Hansen, William Connon, and Carol Gebauer.
Joseph was born February 28, 1928, in Alpena to the late Joseph and Wilma (Diem) Beland. He served in the United States Army at the end of World War II in Korea. Joe graduated from college at Stout Institute in Menomonie, WI, with a BS in Industrial Education in 1953. After graduation, Joe and his wife Kay moved to Big Rapids where he taught Industrial Arts. He continued his graduate work in the summers to receive his MS in Industrial Education from Stout in 1957. He returned to Alpena with his family in 1962 and taught drafting and led the Industrial Arts department at Alpena High School, retiring in 1986. Joe especially enjoyed helping students develop their skills and also opened his classroom on Tuesday evenings for tutoring and for students to work on their projects. Over the rest of his life after retirement former students would often run into him around town and introduce themselves to express their appreciation for what they'd learned and how he helped guide them in their school and career choices.
Joe met the love of his life Kay (Kathryn Thurston) at college on a blind date and they were married in 1951 and married for over 71 years! Joe was a great father to three boys and he shared his hands-on skills with them that they all use today. Joe had a great sense of humor with a hint of occasional well-placed sarcasm. He was a member of First Congregational United Church of Christ, Optimist Club, and volunteer for Meals on Wheels. He enjoyed golfing, bowling, fishing, road trips and playing cards.
Surviving are his wife, Kathryn; three sons, Scott (partner Kathleen Massini) Beland, David (Janet) Beland, Steven (Fay Sato-Beland) Beland; five grandchildren, Drew (fiancée Sadie Rath) Beland, Sarah (partner Alex Hofstrand) Beland, Willow Brook, Andrew Beland, Patrick (Amanda) Huseonica; three great grandchildren, Carson, Kennedy, Quade; brother, David (Jean) Connon; several nieces and nephews.
Joe was preceded in death by his step father, Arthur Connon; siblings, Jean King, Shirley Timm, Floyd Connon, Barbara Hansen, William Connon, and Carol Gebauer.
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