Joseph Charles Bria Sr., 92, a lifelong resident of Bessemer, passed away Sunday, Jan. 2, 2011.
Joseph was born on June 28, 1918, in Bessemer, the son of Italian emigrants Joseph Charles and Catherine (Baratone) Bria.
He graduated from A.D. Johnston High School in Bessemer.
Joseph proudly served in the U.S. Army during World War II. He was a D-Day veteran who landed on Omaha Beach in Normandy, France. Joseph was a recipient of the Bronze Star Medal, the Purple Heart and the American Campaign Medal.
On Sept. 21, 1950, Joseph was united in marriage with Beverly Avis Eslick at St. Sebastian Catholic Church in Bessemer.
He retired as Postmaster from the United States Postal Service in Bessemer in 1972.
His memberships included St. Sebastian Catholic Church, the Bessemer Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 3673, the Disabled American Veterans Chapter No. 66 and the Bessemer Elks. He served on the board of directors of the Gogebic County Community Mental Health for 25 years.
Joseph is survived by nine children, Joseph Jr. (Linda Gail), Las Vegas, Elizabeth (Terry) Youren, Niagara, Wis., Joan (Richard) Strasser, St. Joseph, Julie (Donald) Kangas, Ironwood, Deborah Bria and Michael Bria, both of Green Bay, Wis., Theresa (Robb) Kimmes, Cranberry Lake, N.Y., Linda (Paul) Lemire, Billings, Mont., and Lisa (Tony) Domico, Bellingham, Wash.; 16 grandchildren, Jon Bria, Las Vegas, Kristi (Brian) Peterson, Oak Creek, Wis., Kendra (Miguel) Valenzuela, Antofagasta, Chile, Jordan (Ashley) Youren, Appleton, Wis., Alison Strasser (Johnny DeBoer), Kalamazoo, Dustin (Rhonda) Strasser and Whitney Strasser (Josh Rice), both of St. Joseph, Jamie (Sarah) Kangas, Ironwood, Dana Kangas (Paul Semo), Rhinelander, Wis., Melissa DaPra (Rob Gartzke), Tara DaPra (Jim Deere) and Lucas (Bridget) DaPra, all of Green Bay, Noah Kimmes (Chanel Revoyr), of the Minneapolis area, Zoe Kimmes, Cranberry Lake, Dante Lemire, Billings, and Madeline Domico, Bellingham; 10 great-grandchildren, Jacob, Bryce, Zach, Bella and Brock Peterson, Judah, Greta and Lilah Gartzke and Ashlen and Caydin Kangas; a sister, Kathryn Orsborne, Appleton; two sisters-in-law, Stephanie Bria, East Lansing, and Zoe Peterson, Storm Lake, Iowa; and numerous nieces and nephews, including special family members, Dick, Sharon, Cara, Richard, Jack, Gus and Joe Matrella.
He was preceded in death by his parents; beloved wife, Beverly, on Oct. 17, 2010; and siblings and their spouses, Frances (Bruce) Kulp, Mayme (Francis) Boyer, John (Edith) Bria, James Bria, Inez (Bill) Nolan, Mary (Geno) Matrella and James Orsborne.
The family will greet relatives and friends on Friday, Jan. 7, from 9:30 to 11 a.m., at St. Sebastian Catholic Church, where a Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 11 a.m., with the Rev. Louis P. Bracket officiating.
Pallbearers will be Dick Matrella, Jim Chiapuzio, Terry Youren, Donald Kangas, Dick Strasser, Robb Kimmes and Paul Lemire.
Following the Mass, military rites will be accorded by the Bessemer VFW Post 3673, the Bessemer American Legion Post 27 and the DAV Chapter No. 66 Honor Guard.
A reception will be held in the Fr. Swoboda Hall following the military honors.
Rite of Committal and burial will take place in the spring at Hillcrest Cemetery.
The family is being served by Lakeside Memorial Chapel Inc., Wakefield.