Joseph D. Chisholm

Joseph D. Chisholm, 82, of Chippewa Falls died Saturday, March 11, 2017, at Sacred Heart Hospital in Eau Claire.

Joe was born Dec. 2, 1934, at St. Joseph's Hospital in Chippewa Falls, the sixth child of Dr. D. R. Chisholm and Eleanor Donnellan Chisholm. He was a member of Notre Dame Church and the Knights of Columbus Goldsmith Council #974.

He attended St. Charles and Notre Dame Grade schools and graduated from Mc Donell High School in 1953. He attended Marquette University in Milwaukee and graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire in 1957, where he majored in English literature and American political history. After graduation Joe was drafted into the U.S. Army and served in Europe.

He worked in the sawmills of Washington, Oregon and Idaho for the Weyerhaeuser Timber Company, where his career in the lumber industry began. He became editor of a weekly newspaper when he moved to Hayward, Wis., which he considered his most creative work experience. Later he became general manager of a local radio station. Known for his writing and his strong opinions, he also wrote a weekly column for the local papers.

His favorite pastime was travel and he took numerous automobile trips throughout the U.S. where he found inspiration for his photography and painting. His art was often exhibited in art shows. Joe's humanitarian journeys included trips to Mexico to distribute eye glasses with the Lions Club of Hayward and to Yugoslavia to distribute medical supplies and clothing to refugee camps. This dedication to others extended to his neighborhood community, where he became a St. Joseph's Hospital hospice volunteer, AA sponsor and youth mentor.

Joe was an excellent athlete and expressed his love for the mountains as an avid alpine skier, mountain climber and explorer. He followed the entire Lewis and Clark Trail, summited Mount St. Helen's, and competed as a ski jumper. When he took up cross country skiing in the late 1980s, he participated in both the American and Australian Birkebeiner cross country ski races. He loved to fish musky on the Chippewa Flowage, play golf (he once shot a hole in one at Congressional Country Club in Washington, D.C.) and use the extensive Chippewa area mountain bike trails.

In 1996 Joe returned to Chippewa Falls after 40 years to live in the Chisholm family home with his sister, Jean. Joe was and his family is especially grateful to Steve Roth, Carmel Sullivan and the entire staff and fellow residents of Home Suite Home for their friendship and care over the past two years.

Joe is survived by his son, Joseph D. Chisholm II of Colorado and California; daughters, Katie Nadeau of St. Paul and Stewart Margaret Chisholm (Bennett Taylor) of Driggs, Idaho; brothers, David Chisholm of Syracuse, N.Y., and Tom (Nancy) of Chippewa Falls; sister, Kitty Chisholm (Art Van Meggelen) of Nashville, Tenn.; grandchildren, Forrest Nadeau of Portland, Ore., and Sally Nadeau of Brooklyn; along with numerous nieces and nephews.

Joe was preceded in death by his parents; sisters, Ann Conners and Jean Chisholm; and grandson, Rockwell Joseph Nadeau.

Memorials may be sent to the Hayward Lions Club, P.O. Box 306, Hayward, Wis., 54843.

Mass and celebration of Joe 's life is planned for noon,March 15, at Notre Dame Church in Chippewa Falls. The Rev. Msgr. Mark Pierce of Notre Dame Church will be celebrant of the Funeral Mass. Inurnment will be in Hope Cemetery in Chippewa Falls. Friends may call from 11 a.m. until the time of services at the church. Family and friends may also express condolences at www.horanfuneralhome.com.