Service Details
Services celebrating Joe’s life will be held at Draeger-Langendorf Funeral Home on Friday, January 9, 2026 at 12:00 noon with Rev. John Anderson officiating. Interment, with military honors, will take place in West Lawn Memorial Park. A memorial luncheon will follow. Visitation will be in the funeral home on Friday, January 9th, from 10:00 am – 12:00 noon.
Memorial Suggestions
In lieu of flowers and in recognition of Joe’s love for baseball, memorial may be directed to “Sturtevant Youth Baseball Assn.”
Joseph Clyde Gelmi, age 83, passed away unexpectedly, yet peacefully, at home on Friday, December 26, 2025 after celebrating Christmas Day with his beloved family.
Joe was born in Ishpeming, Michigan (Upper Peninsula). He graduated from Ishpeming High School in 1960. Immediately following, Joe faithfully enlisted into the United States Navy, where he remained and retired after 21 years. He served on 2 cruisers and a frigate, did 2 years in Vietnam, 1 year on a river patrol boat and 1 year in Saigon as an instructor. Joe received numerous awards during his 2 tours in Vietnam, the highest being the Bronze Star which came with the combat “V” device for Valor. Joe trained Navy recruits at Great Lakes Naval Base from 1970-74, where he met the love of his life, Kathy Lou Kelly, in 1971. They were married on April 28, 1973. Joe & Kathy moved to Okinawa, Japan where his son, Frank, was born in 1975. Sadly, Kathy Gelmi passed away on January 10, 2020.
Joe was quite the sports fanatic, especially for baseball. He was a longtime coach for Racine Baseball Co-op, Sturtevant Youth Baseball Assn. and other local sports leagues. He began coaching for his son Frank and continued on for other family members and friends. Joe never wanted to miss a game. If he wasn’t coaching a game….he was in the stands cheering on the kids. As a youth, Joe played baseball, football, and participated in several ski jumping events. While in the Navy, Joe played fastpitch softball and, as a pitcher, he had a mean knuckleball.
Surviving are his son & best friend, Frank Gelmi; sister, Kathleen Honkala; nieces, Jeanne (Joe) Voet and Jodi (Al) Firby; bonus daughter, Stephanie Gelmi; Stephanie’s mom, Marlene Fink; Stephanie’s brother, Bobby; adopted grandchildren, Molly and Luke; and the Al Rosenbaum family, along with other special family members & friends – too numerous to mention all by name.
In addition to his parents and wife, Joe was preceded in death by his brother-in-law, Jim Honkala.
Services celebrating Joe’s life will be held at Draeger-Langendorf Funeral Home on Friday, January 9, 2026 at 12:00 noon with Rev. John Anderson officiating. Interment, with military honors, will take place in West Lawn Memorial Park. A memorial luncheon will follow. Visitation will be in the funeral home on Friday, January 9th, from 10:00 am – 12:00 noon. In lieu of flowers and in recognition of Joe’s love for baseball, memorial may be directed to “Sturtevant Youth Baseball Assn.”
Rick Erickson says
The love and camaraderie that I witnessed between Joe and his Son/Best Friend, Frank is something that will always be remembered. Being in a room, (like a fly on the wall) watching a conversation between these two was like something from the movies. It had compassion, love, humor, a little drama from both, respectful dynamics, and an understanding that only Joe and Frank could take to heart. I am sorry for your loss my friend. May you find comfort in all of the great memories throughout your lifetime. Joe’s a great soul, and is in a much better place that we cannot fathom at this time.