Joseph Thornton
February 25, 1931 — January 12, 2017
Joseph Patrick Thornton Jr.
Joseph (Peanuts) Thornton,
85
, Hibbing passed away peacefully on Thursday January 12
,
2017, in Hibbing at Guardian Angels Health and Rehabilitation Center.
He was born in Hibbing to Joseph Patrick Thornton, Sr. and Grace (Tawyea) Thornton on February 25, 1931. He served in the army from 1952 to 1954. He attended and graduated in 1959 from UMD in Duluth. In 1960 he married Phyllis (Srozinski) in Duluth. He worked for MSI Insurance until his retirement in
1996.
Joe focused his life on his family. He enjoyed fishing and hunting with his sons. He was also an avid gardener and enjoyed attending family gatherings.
He is survived by his wife, Phyllis Thornton of Hibbing; seven children: Kathy (Mark) Gornick of Ramsey, Minn., Joe (Barb) Thornton of Ramsey, Lisa (Dan) Samsa of Side Lake, Jeff Thornton of Chisholm, Darin (Diana) Thornton of Hibbing, Tracy (Laural) Thornton of Isanti, Minn., and Pat (Alicia) Thornton of Hibbing; and by 11 grand children: Sarah (Luke) Legatt, Elizabeth and Jennifer Gornick, Madeline and Danielle Thornton, Angela and Chris Samsa, Seth Butler, Tayler Thornton, and Hannah and Tyler Thornton, great grand-daughter Camber Legatt. Brother Dennis (Sandra) Thornton. Numerous nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his son, Kevin P. Thornton; parents, Joe and Grace Thornton; brothers, Roland, Robert and Gerald Thornton; sisters, Margaret (Sue) Hill & Joanne Gustafson.
Funeral Services for Joseph will be held at 11:00 AM Tuesday January 17, 2017 at Blessed Sacrament Church of Hibbing. The Rev. Fr. Nick Nelson will celebrate the Mass of Christian Burial. Visitation will be held 1 hour prior to the funeral Mass at the church on Tuesday.
Joseph’s family would like to express a heartfelt thank you to the staff at Guardian Angels for their excellent care and compassion over the past two years.
Interment will be at Maple Hill Cemetery in Hibbing with military honors accorded by Mid-Range Honor Guard. Arrangements are with the Doughterty Funeral Home of Hibbing
.