Joseph James Schley

Joseph James Schley of rural Gilbert died Friday, September 26, 2014, at the Northern Pines Hospital in Aurora. Joe ("Jim" to his family and old friends) was born in Virginia, Minnesota, to Joseph and Stella (Laski) Schley on September 10, 1938. "Remember, remember, the 19th of September," he would always remind everyone. A Marquette School student when young, he served as an altar boy for many years, which led to his ability to recite whole parts of the Latin Mass--often at the most inappropriate times and places. In 1959, he married Margaret Behrens of Lakeland, and the couple then moved to Ely where he was employed at the Zenith underground mine. Always open to new enterprises and usually seeing green over the next fence, he later mined gold in South Dakota, uranium in Grants, New Mexico; molybdenum in California; copper in Butte, Montana; and iron in Sullivan, Missouri. Returning to Minnesota, he worked for a dairy, then for a couple of explosives plants, later owned a campers business, and finally drove over-the-road for a couple of different long-distance trucking firms. Always an old-fashioned Iron Ranger, he worked hard at this job and then enjoyed time with his friends and family. He could tell jokes and stories all night long and not repeat any of them. He was smart and witty; loved little kids; and was adored by his children, his grandchildren, and his nieces and nephews. He admired honesty and disliked hypocrisy. He quietly loved his family, his country, and his God. Joe is survived by his wife of 55 years, Margaret; his son Doug (Laurie) of Mounds View; his daughters Donna (Wally) Walls of rural Gilbert, Dana Petersen of Woodbury and Diana Brennan of Inver Grove Heights; his grandchildren Sarah Walls; Caitlin and Caroline Petersen; Hallie, Maggie, and Ben Schley; and Samantha Brennan; his sister Barbara Leinonen of Virginia and brother David (Mardy) Schley of Grand Island, Nebraska; in-laws Helen Ellingson of Osseo; Sue and Hal Devereux, Monica and Stephen Von Wald, Bruce (Jody Burich) Behrens, Becky and Ron Mackey, all of rural Gilbert; numerous nieces, nephews, and cousins; and his "bestest friend" Gunner. He was preceded in death by his parents; his sisters Joan Scipioni and Susan Anderson; his brother Billy in infancy; his sons-in-law Matt Brennan and David Petersen. Visitation will be held from 5:00-7:00 P.M., on Monday, September, 29, at the Ziemer-Moeglein-Shatava Funeral Home in Gilbert, with a Mass of Christian Burial to follow on Tuesday, September 30, at 10:00 A.M. at St. John's Catholic Church in Biwabik. A private inurnment will take place at a later date.