OBITUARY

 
JOSEPH DANTE NIAGRETTI MONtM2C(SS)
August 15, 1922 - January 24, 2003
 
Joe was born in Pennsylvania and grew up in Hamtramck, Michigan. He played football and graduated from Hamtramck High School in 1941.
 
He enlisted in the Navy in December of 1941 immediately after the attack on Pearl Harbor. In 1943, Joe volunteered for submarines and after Submarine School, served in the Relief Crews at Pearl Harbor and Midway Island, soon thereafter assigned to the USS Billfish SS 286. The war ended on Joe's third patrol run on the Billfish, at which time, they headed stateside.
 
Joe retired from the Navy, December 1947. In civilian life Joe entered into his lifetime trade of plumbing until his retirement.
 
He joined the U.S. Submarine Veterans of WWII in 1969 and served as State Commander, 1996-1997.

 The funeral wake was at Sullivan Funeral Home in Utica, Michigan, on Sunday, January 26, 2003. In attendance were Sub Vets: Al Allen, Harry Bidelman, Dave Brown and Simone, Fred Gardner, Everette Houk, Bud Masinick and Barbara, Dan Michalski, Warren Nelson and Vivian, Cecil Pratt, Bill Seng and Mary, Hubert Ward and John Widajewski.

Once in a while a man passes thru this life that touches us all. One of these men was Joe Magretti.

He was a husband, a father, a Submariner and a true Patriot. In all the years that I knew Joe, I never once saw him without a smile on his face.

 You will be Missed by your shipmates and friends.
 
Sailor rest your Oar