Joe Pernaski

He was born in Portage Township in Houghton County, Michigan, to Joseph & Eva Lucille (Downey) Pernaski.

On July 10, 1954, he married his childhood sweetheart Yvonne “Bonnie” Naomi Skewes. They enjoyed 68 years of marriage filled with love, they lived every moment of life together in celebration of family, and they were amazing at it.

Joe graduated from Houghton High School in 1954. He worked for 30 years and retired from Kohler Co., serving the company’s brass and powerhouse divisions. He represented his fellow workers by serving as President of the United Auto Workers UAW local #833 from 1978-1981.

He was an avid Great Lakes fisherman and operated a charter fishing business on his boat, “The Guzzler,” from Lake Michigan’s Sheboygan harbor for many years. His true passion was deer hunting with his family. Aside from fishing & hunting he enjoyed watching his favorite Detroit Lions, baseball, & hockey.

Bonnie & Joe enjoyed retirement at their dream home on Shakey Lakes in Stephenson, MI, spending many sunrises & sunsets looking out over the lake and many evenings on the “bingo bus” to have fun playing the slots and making friends at the bingo hall.

Their retirement home was host to decades of family get-togethers & holiday celebrations where the whole family always gathered there together.

Joseph was preceded in death by his parents and two older sisters, Mary (Louie) Bellanger and Margaret (Al) Porkka.

He is survived by his wife Bonnie and children Patricia (Ralph) Gunkel, Kelli (Scott) Kisiolek, Karen Reed and Joseph (Julia) Pernaski. He was blessed with six grandchildren: Christopher (Emily) & Angela, Paige (Alex) & Lauren, and Joseph (Allie) & Sydney (Nick). His three beautiful great-grandchildren Audrey, Jackson, and Jack Joseph.

A private family memorial service will be held. To leave an online condolence for the family, please visit zimmerfuneralhome.com