Joseph Rupert Zblewski

Joseph was born on a farm at Sunset Lake in Portage county, Wisconsin on March 26, 1931. The tenth of 12 children to Lucian F. and Anna (Kizewski) Zblewski. He was the last surviving member of his family (siblings). He was an altar boy in the catholic church in his youth. During WWII while in his teens, he worked at a bowling alley in Stevens Point, WI, manually setting pins before the automatic pinsetters arrived for $0.25/hr plus tips, usually quarter tips that bowlers would roll down the lane to him. He also worked for Dad’s Rootbeer in the same town. He attended local schools, starting out in a one room school house. The school is still standing today. He left school at the end of the 10th grade, then moved to Milwaukee WI at the age of 17 to work for Universal Rundle Foundry (1948-1960).

At a company Christmas party, he met his wife Karen Jean Anderson in December 1955. Karen was employed in the office staff. They courted and purchased a home together and married July 13th, 1957 in Milwaukee. Joe and Karen began their family with the births of Sandra, Suzanne, Cheryl, Joseph John, Steven and Andrew. In 1960, Joe went to work for Grady Foundry in Milwaukee WI (1960-1967). In August 1967, the family moved to Marshall Michigan. Joe transferred to be plant manager at Specialty Castings, a division of Eaton Corp. During those years, he started his own carpentry business (1968-1977) with help from family, friends, and hired help when needed. It was a very successful business and did quality work that word would get around and didn’t have to advertise. He worked on many homes in and around the area, restored many old homes and some were on the Marshall Home Tour, including his own home. Most notably, the “National House Inn” in Marshall (the oldest operating Inn in Michigan). He could fix or build most anything - a real craftsman, self taught. He had a real knack for it. He put aluminum siding on a lot of homes around Marshall when it became a popular siding. Roofs, windows, painting. He loved to paint and would boast that he didn’t get paint on him. Even in the end, he still had a steady hand. He still drove and bought his last car earlier this year (2025).

In his later years he had a very elaborate workshop with all the tools a man would want, wood working was his specialty. He built hundreds of things out of wood for his family, friends, and public. He made many wooden toys and rocking horses for his kids and grand kids. Ice fishing boxes and many other things. At one time, he even wanted to make a wooden car to drive. Besides making things, he helped his wife with her antique business, purchasing things, repairing and selling at flea markets, auctions, shows, etc.

In 1977, he worked for Midwest Metallurgical Laboratories as operations manager. He held that position until his retirement on March 31st, 1994, but he never really retired. He was still so hard working. Retirement wasn’t going to keep him down. Joe and Karen purchased a cottage on Prairie Lake north of Albion MI in the late 1970s, Joe fixed up the cottage, built a garage, guest house, storage building and horseshoe pit. In 1989, they purchased their last home, also on Prairie lake down the road from the cottage, a small farm with lakefront, building, house, acreage and sold the home in Marshall. He enjoyed driving his grand kids around on his golf cart.

Joe was comfortable in his own skin, patient and always sure of himself and was still sharp to the end. He loved fishing and eating them. He fished many lakes, large and small in Wisconsin and Michigan. His wife and sons also enjoyed fishing with him. He enjoyed playing cards, especially Pinochle. Joe traveled back home to Wisconsin many times. Throughout his life, he spoke four languages: English, Polish, Latin, and Korean. He traveled much of the world and many states, including Alaska and Hawaii. His favorite places were Poland and Alaska.

He was put in the local newspaper for his woodworking talents. Also veteran of the year at least once. Joe was drafted into the U.S. Army during the Korean War Conflict. After bootcamp at Fort Gordon in Georgia, he was shipped out to Korea as a corporal, with the 8th Army Tank Recovery Unit/ Dispatcher MOR. He was honorably discharged in 1954. He was a member of the VFW and American Legion for over 50 years and held many positions at the post. He was very proud to be a veteran and as an American with Polish roots. You would often see him in public with his Korean Veteran hats on. He participated in many veteran functions over the years and disposed of many old U.S. flags from around town.

Joe and Karen planned and had many gatherings, parties, celebrations for themselves, family, friends, organizations, church, and companies. They were great turnouts and successes. When a need was put before them, Joe and Karen always rolled up their sleeves to help. Not bad for a Polish fella from a small Wisconsin farm with a 10th grade education.

Mr. Zblewski was preceded in death by his wife Karen of 68 years, his parents, Lucian Zblewski and Anna Zblewski, his brothers Albin, Phillup, Lawrence, Anthony, sisters Iren, Ellinora, Onata, Evelyn, Virginia, Bernadetta and Esther, and Son Steven J. Zblewski.

Survived by Sandra Lawrence, Kalamazoo Michigan, Suzanne Sellers, Lomira Wisconsin, Cheryl Fairbrother, Canadian Lakes Michigan, Joseph John Zblewski, Allegan Michigan, Andrew (Holly) Zblewski, Albion Michigan, 12 grandchildren and 12 great-grandchildren.

A visitation will be held at J. Kevin Tidd Funeral Home, located at 811 Finley Dr, Albion, MI 49224, on January 2, 2026, from 5:00 pm to 7:00 pm. A Rosary Service will take place at 6:30 pm, officiated by Father Richard Altine.

A Memorial Mass for both Karen and Joseph will be conducted at St John Parish, 1020 Irwin Ave, Albion, MI 49224, on February 7, 2026, at 11:00 am with Father Richard Altine officiating.