"I wish to express my condolence and sympathy to the family and friends of Joe Blake. You are in my thoughts. I personally have very special memories of Joe that will never be forgotten with the time I spent with NMU hockey."
In loving memory of
Joe Blake
April 16, 1929 - December 8, 2004
Long time Marquette businessman, William Joseph Joe Blake, 75, of 1203 Tierney St., Marquette, owner and president of WMQT and WZAM radio stations, died Wednesday evening at his Marquette home.
Mr. Blake was born on April 16, 1929 at Rockford, Illinois to the late Edward and Jane (Swan) Blake. He had lived in the Marquette area since June of 1977.
Joe started in the radio profession in Ladysmith and Medford, Wisconsin from 1954 1956 and in Ironwood, Michigan with WJMS from 1956 1969. Along with Bob Olson, Joe purchased WMPL radio in Hancock in 1969. In 1971 he bought WCKD in Ishpeming which later became WMQT-WZAM, which he still actively managed at the time of his death.
Joe was known for being the voice and color commentator of NMU hockey and volleyball for many years. He did play by play broadcasting since 1954 for hockey, football, basketball, baseball, track and field, wrestling, golf, swimming and volleyball.
He served on the Michigan Association of Broadcasters board for eight years including holding the title of treasurer. In 1998, he received the Veritas Award from Bishop Boylan High School in Rockford, Illinois. In August of 2001, Joe was inducted into the Michigan Broadcasters Hall of Fame as one of their first recipients. He was also inducted into the Northern Michigan University Sports Hall of Fame and received the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Ishpeming Diplomats.
Joe was a member of St. Peter Cathedral in Marquette where he served on the cathedral finance and stewardship committees, was a member of the Marquette Breakfast Rotary Club where he served as past president. He also served on the board of the Marquette Area Public Schools Foundation and was a member and former president of the Great Lakes Training Center Association board.
He is survived by his wife, Pat, who he married on May 7, 1955 at Our Lady of Sorrows Catholic Church in Ladysmith, Wisconsin; 9 children, Tracy (Liz) Blake of Interlochen, MI, Bobbi Blake of Northville, MI, Mary (Jeff) Stevens of Dollar Bay, MI, Kathy (Mark Hirvonen) Blake of Harvey, Tom (Jani) Blake of Negaunee, Paul (Fiance, Donna Christensen) Blake of Houghton, Emmett Blake of St. Ignace, Peter (Beth) Blake of Louisville, KY and Beth (Tom) Holmgren of Ishpeming; 13 grandchildren, Kimberly, Jake, Katie and Michael Stevens, Corey Blake and Parker Hirvonen, Taylor, Nathan, Haley and Alyssa Blake, Sara, Adam and Ashley Pierce; 2 sisters, Ruth Ann Jonasen of Ladysmith, WI and Jan (Peter) Ricca of Anchorage, AK; also surviving are several nieces and nephews. Preceding him in death besides his parents was a son, Michael Joseph Blake; grandsons, Tyler Blake Holmgren and Timothy Michael Stevens; a sister, Mary Jane Wilson and brother-in-law, Ralph Jonasen.
Visitation will be on Saturday in the Gathering Space of St. Peter Cathedral from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 2 p.m. Saturday in the cathedral with the Rev. Msgr. Louis C. Cappo officiating and Deacon Scott Jamieson assisting. Inurnment will take place in Ironwood.
Mr. Blakes children will act as his escorts.
Memorial contributions in Joes memory are preferred to either the Northern Michigan University Mens Hockey program or the Womens Volleyball program.
Tributes
"We are so very sorry for your loss. You and your family are in our prayers. With much love, Aunt Peg and Hank."
"I am so happy to be able to leave a note of remembrance about Joe Blake. My name is Deanna Kreski and I have known the Blake family for 13+ years. I played basketball with the youngest Blake, Beth, at NMU. I have so many good memories with Beth, and a lot of those entailed, Joe and Pat. Joe was one of the warmest people that I have ever met. He always had a kind word for me and encouraged me, as if he were my parent. I held him in high regard and his opinion mattered to me. Both Joe and Pat are unbelievably giving and Christians in the truest form. They are two of my role models and are very close to my heart. I strive to be like the Blakes and honestly LOVE them. I know that this email seems corny, but all of my thoughts are true. The truest statement that I can make about Joe Blake is this...To truely know how great of a person Joe Blake was, I will tell you...look at his children. They, as a two person team, have created some of the nicest, kindest people that I know. I will pray for the Blake family, but I know that they will get through this, because they have each other, and a strong faith in God. Sincerely, Deanna Kreski"
"Dear Pat and Family, I check the Mining Gazette website regularly and am so sad to read about Joe. He certainly was a great guy and will be missed by many. Although I haven't seen you all in 20 years, it seems as though it was yesterday that we were neghbors in Calumet and the girls were babysitting for my now 34-40 year old children!!!! Much Sympathy. Hugs to All. Mary"
"Hi Paul & Donna I am so sorry to hear about your dad. You have our sympathy."
"Dear Blake Family, I worked with Joe at WJMS in Ironwood from 1967 to 1969. He was a good-hearted and supportive senior colleague to those of us who were working there as kids. I didn't stay in the radio business but I think back on those days often, and when I do I remember Joe fondly. Please accept my condolences. --Dan Ehnbom"
"My love to everyone as we have lost a very special man, important to each of us in different ways. I wish I could be with you during this difficult time."
"Joe made a lasting impression on me. He did wonders for Marquette County. We had little coverage of football until he came here. Always enjoyed his 6:00 a.m. phone calls about the upcoming game. I was still half asleep and he must have been up for hours. He really loved his work. I was REALLY amazed when he broadcast the U.P. track finals. That was never done before, but he did it. He was always trying to do more. I also had the privilege of meeting his daughter Beth, who I worked with at Negaunee High School. Like her dad, a very nice person. My deepest sympathy to the entire family. Joe will be sorely missed."
"Pat and family, Helen and I are so saddened of the news of Joe's death. We talk often of the great times we had in at WJMS in Ironwood, and I wish we could go just one more time "Around the Range for the Holidays", or go trout fishing on the Presque Isle River. Your short visit with us here in Florida a couple of years ago was long overdue. Joe will always be remembered as one of our dearest friends and certainly one of the best Radio Guys in the business. Our sincerest condolences to you and your family, Ron and Helen Pierce"
"Our deepest condolences to the Blake family. Your family is in our thoughts and prayers. God Bless."
"Our prayers and condolences go to Pat the family. (We saw the AP release in the Traverse City paper.) May God hold you up during this difficult time"
"TOM AND FAMILY JUST A QUICK NOTE TO LET YOU KNOW THAT YOU ARE IN MY THOUGHTS AND PRAYERS. GOD BLESS"
"Reading the obituary of Joe Blake in the Daily Mining Gazette gave me much sadness but reminded me of those wonderful days when I worked in the office for Ben Miller in his clothing store in Hancock. Mr. Miller, the "M" in WMPL, along with Cliff Paulson and Locatelli, decided to have me do a one hour fashion show at their radio station. It was called "High Noon at Millers" and one of those clever men dubbed me "Miss Ann." I became the fashion expert of the popular one hour radio show. I remember the young boy with the beautiful speaking voice, Mitch Lake, who still graces the wave lengths of the radio station; and the ambitious and wise Bob Olson and his great wife, Edda. It was one of the happiest times of my life, knowing and working with these wonderful people. At 95 years old, I had to close my home in South Range and I am now a resident of the Cypress Manor Health and Rehabilitation Center, Room 117, 1400 Poplar St., Hancock, MI 49930. I want to express my feelings of sympathy to Pat and the family and thank them for being a part of my beautiful memories of those years gone by. With sympathy, Ann Marcheschi (Miss Ann)"
"Our prayers and thoughts are with you."
"Sorry to hear of your loss. My thoughts will be with your family."
"My thoughts and my prayers go out to the whole Blake clan. Joe was a great guy and you just have to look at the children to know that Pat and Joe knew a little something about raising a family. I am proud to have grown up with such a great family in South Mqt. Emmett and Paul, I sure miss you guys and know that my thoughts are with you during this time. Give your mom my best and give the family a hug!! Scott and Bonnie Schmeltzer"
"Joe was a pillar of the community, not only of the cities of Marquette, Ishpeming and Negaunee, but of the whole Upper Peninsula. He was so well known and recognizable that everyone treated him as family. His affilable smile and relaxed demeaner made a person feel comfortable and relaxed right away. He was a Prince of radio and a King to the UP."