Marquette–– Chief Master Sergeant Joseph J. Schlumpf, USAF Retired, 75, died on February 7, 2007 at 1:00 pm.
Joe was born in Plum City, Wisconsin on February 21, 1931 to Joseph and Orma Schlumpf. He graduated from Durand High School in 1948 and worked in the family sheet metal business until his employment by the Bureau of Public Roads, Fairbanks, Alaska, as a surveyor's assistant in 1950. Joe enlisted in the USAF on 3 October 1950 and married his wife, Kay, on 26 March 1951. Together, they spent the next 28 years on active duty serving at air bases around the world. The Marquette area became their permanent home following Joe's retirement on 1 July 1978. Following retirement, he worked as the Civil Service Test Examiner for the Marquette area and in 1982 returned to work at KI Sawyer AFB where he subsequently became the Human Resource Officer for the Morale, Welfare, and Recreation Division. He again retired on 1 February 1993. He was a member of the Air Force Sergeant's Association, the American Legion, and a life member of both the VFW and DAV.
Joe was often described by family and friends as, "absolutely the nicest man I've ever met!" Joe is survived by his beloved wife, Kay; son, Steven (Colleen) of Marquette; grandsons, Shawn (Stacy) of Irvington, AL; great-grandsons, Austin, Cody, and Alex; Steven (Tamara) Treder of St. Paul, MN; great-granddaughters, Linnea, Micaela; great-grandson, Max; Kyle Treder of Plymouth, and Ian Treder of Escanaba; granddaughter, Michelle (Errickk) Decker of Negaunee; great-grandsons, Nolan, AJ; son, Barry of Orlando, FL; grandson, Erik of Gwinn and granddaughter, Kelly of Gwinn; daughter, Kayleen (Stephen) Swanson of Port Charlotte, FL; grandson Travis (Rene) Swanson of New Orleans, LA; granddaughter, Amber Swanson of Orlando, FL. Also surviving are a brother, Bernard, and two sisters, Wanda and Joan.
The family will receive relatives and friends at St. Louis the King Catholic Church in Harvey on Monday, February 12, beginning at 12:00 noon. A memorial mass will follow at 1:00 pm Monday afternoon with Rev. Ben Paris, pastor, as celebrant. A reception for family and friends will follow in Fr. Gauthier Hall. Inurnment will be made in the Holy Cross Cemetery Columbarium. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to St. Louis the King Catholic Church, 264 Silver Creek Road, Marquette, MI 49855 or St. Labre Indian School, P.O. Box 77, Ashland, MT 59004.
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