Joseph P. Emanuel
Joseph P. Emanuel, 91, of Winona died Wednesday, April 16, 2008, at Lake Winona Manor, after a two-month battle with leukemia.
Joe was born Jan. 26, 1917, to Dominic and Catherine (Barberi) Emanuel, in Keewatin, Minn. He attended Hibbing Junior College, where he studied forestry and played basketball. In 1939, he graduated from Duluth State Teachers College (now UMD), with a degree in teaching. Joe and his brother, Tony Emanuel, were co-captains of the Duluth State basketball team. Joe met his future wife, Gladys Erickson of Chisholm, Minn., at DSTC, where she was a cheerleader. He was a high school teacher when he was drafted into the U.S. Army on June 26, 1941. Joe and Gladys were married in Paris, Texas, near where Joe was stationed at Camp Maxie, on June 12, 1943. They were fond of saying that they were married in Paris and remained together and in love for 64 years.
Joe entered active duty in the Army as a private and was discharged as a major, at Edgewood Arsenal in Maryland. He trained in chemical warfare tactics and defense. He served 16 months overseas earning a bronze star with the 102nd Infantry Division, in France, Holland and Germany. After the war, he served in the Army reserves. Joe commanded the 419th Civil Affairs Company, in Winona, from 1953 to 1963. He retired as a lieutenant colonel.
After graduate studies on the G.I. Bill at the University of Minnesota, Joe taught biology at Northern Montana College in Havre, Mont., from 1947 to 1949. He moved to Winona in 1949 and taught at Winona State for 33 years, retiring in 1982. Joe served as chairman of the biology department and then chairman of the Division of Science and Mathematics for a total of 10 years, was Faculty Senate president for five years and represented Winona State Faculty for six on the Inter Faculty Organization. Among the contributions of which Joe was most proud was his pivotal role as an administrator in establishing Winona State’s successful nursing program.
Joe was energetically devoted to the community beyond WSU. He served two terms on the Winona Board of Adjustment, resolving city zoning issues. He spent 15 years on the city’s Charter Commission and was elected chairman during the push to adopt the city’s Home Rule Charter. The document creating Winona’s current Council-Manager form of government was overwhelmingly adopted by election on May 7, 1968.
Joe worked on behalf of many community groups. He belonged to the American Legion Post 9, and served as post commander. He ushered at the Cathedral of the Sacred Heart for 35 years and belonged to Knights of Columbus Council No. 639 of Winona. He volunteered at the Winona Visitor’s Center, belonged to Kiwanis Golden K, worked on the Red Cross blood drives, assisted at Saint Anne Extended Healthcare, and helped seniors prepare taxes at the Winona Senior Center. He was an enthusiastic YMCA member, working out and helping out at the Y for more than 40 years. Joe loved wildflowers and was a recognized expert on the spring wildflowers of Winona County, a passion he shared through field trips and slide shows for students and diverse groups, including Community Education, Garden Club, Learning Club, WSU Alumni Society and local church groups and retirement homes.
Joe is survived by his wife, Gladys; and sons, Douglas Emanuel of Winona, Richard Emanuel and daughter-in-law, Julie Dumoulin and granddaughter Nicole Emanuel of Anchorage, Alaska; Donald and grandson, Andrew Emanuel of Great Falls, Mont., and Dean and daughter-in-law, Heidi and granddaughter Alyse Emanuel of Maple Grove, Minn.; brother, Patsy Emanuel of Keewatin, Minn.; and sisters-in-law, Mary Emanuel of Keewatin and Arminia Emanuel of Waverly, Minn.; also numerous nieces and nephews and cousins. He was preceded in death by his parents, eight brothers and one sister.
A Mass of Christian Burial to celebrate Joe’s life will be held at 10:30 a.m. Monday, April 21, 2008, at the Cathedral of the Sacred Heart, with the Rev. Swaminatha Pothireddy officiating. Interment will follow at Woodlawn Cemetery, Winona, where members of American Legion Post 9 will conduct military burial honors.
Friends may call on Sunday, April 20, from 2 to 5 p.m. at the Fawcett-Junker Funeral Home, where there will be a prayer service at 4:30 p.m. Friends may also call at the church on Monday from 9:30 a.m. to time of services.
Donations in memory of Joe are welcome to the Joe and Gladys Emanuel Scholarship Fund, for biology students at WSU, and to Winona Area Hospice Services.
Services entrusted to Fawcett-Junker Funeral Home, Winona.
Words of sympathy and remembrance may be left at .