Joe Martell

HERRIN -- Joseph James "Joe" Martell, 96, died Monday, Feb. 21, 2011, at Bethesda Dillworth long-term care facility in St. Louis. Joe was born on October 24, 1914 in Reggio Calabria, Italy, in the town of Cimina' to James Martell and Maria Rodi. Joe and his mother immigrated to the United States when Joe was 5 1/2 years old. They came through Ellis Island in 1920. He loved to talk of his trip by ship to this country and the fun he had sitting on deck during this adventure. Joe spent most of his young life in Bush. He often would tell of his education in a one-room school where he was able to learn his lessons at his own pace because all eight grades were taught during the day. He was a very serious student who loved to read, and he carried this love all through out his life. Joe started working in the mine alongside his stepfather when he was just a teenager. He worked in the mines for 10 years. It didn't take him long to see that the more he learned about how things worked, the better off he would be. So, he learned how to weld, fabricate and repair mine equipment. His effort got him to the surface doing maintenance work. Joe eventually decided that he preferred being his own boss and making his own decisions as to how best to do his work. Joe Martell and Mary Rose Romano were married April, 7 1934, in Bush. Joe moved his young family to Herrin in 1940 where he lived and worked. He opened his own business in 1941, which remained open for more than 66 years. Opening his business just before World War II started allowed Joe to proudly serve his country by teaching welding at night, while he ran his business during the day. Over the years, Joe managed to do everything -- rebuild lawnmowers, sharpen tools, design and build truck bodies, boats and mine personnel carriers. He also worked on special projects for many local businesses and mining operations. Joe managed through hard work and late hours to build a reputation of being able to do those difficult jobs that others were not able to do. When Joe was not working, he would pursue one of his many hobbies. He loved to fish, hunt and garden. He was so fond of these activities, he decided to add 60 additional acres to the 40 acres of land he owned. Now with 100 acres he could farm, which he did. He also built four lakes on his land and stocked them with fish, so he could fish, which he did. He could also hunt any time he liked. Needless to say, Joe was proud of his farm, and he generously shared this joy with his friends and family. Joe and Mary had four children, two boys who died in infancy and two daughters. Joe is survived by his daughter, Josephine Martell Cambron and husband, Ronald, of St. Louis; his granddaughter, Jennifer Kretsinger of Decatur; his grandson, Cameron Schleper of Springfield; his great-grandson, Garret Jon Pirtle of Decatur; his two sisters-in-law, Josephine Romano, formerly of Sparta, and Vee Vaccaro of Herrin; and many nieces, nephews, great-nieces and great-nephews. Joe's wife, Mary Rose Martell, his daughter Virginia Schleper of Decatur, two infant sons, his parents, stepfather, Antonio, and mother, Maria Romano, one sister and brother-in-law, Mary and Joe Barringer of Carbondale, one brother, James Romano of Sparta, and sister-in-law, Carmela Aloffo of Herrin, preceded him in death. Funeral Mass will be at 10 a.m. Saturday, March 19, 2011, in Our Lady of Mount Carmel Catholic Church in Herrin. Monsignor Ken Schaefer will officiate. Burial will be at San Carlo Cemetery. Visitation will be from 6 to 9 p.m. Friday, March 18, at Johnson-Hughes Funeral Home. Memorial donations are suggested to Our Lady of Mount Carmel/ Education Foundation and will be accepted at Johnson-Hughes Funeral Home/ 201 S. 13th St/ Herrin, IL 62948.