Cover photo for Joseph Delmas "JD"  Martinolich's Obituary
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Joseph Delmas "JD" Martinolich

d. March 24, 2018

Joseph Delmas "JD" Martinolich

Joseph Delmas Martinolich of Handsboro, 94, “JD” to family and friends, “Mr. Joe” to co-workers at Keesler Air Force Base, died Saturday, March 24, 2018. The son and eldest child of Joseph Dominic and Inez Delmas Martinolich, JD went to school in Handsboro and graduated in 1943 from Gulfport High School. He was the grandchild of Matteo and Johannah Pavolini Martinolich and William Beard and Agnes Bishop Delmas, all pioneer residents of the Mississippi Gulf Coast. JD retired after 52 years of Civil Service employment in 1992 in the capacity of Deputy Chief of Supply at Keesler Air Force Base and shared with the Chief of Supply the responsibility for the overall management of supplies, equipment, and fuel required in support of all units assigned to Keesler. He completed courses in Business Management and Administration from the University of Mississippi and the University of Southern Mississippi. He was a graduate of the Executive Development Program, Spring Hill College, Mobile, AL. He completed a course at the Georgia institute of Technology under the Continuing Education Program. Mr. Martinolich entered the Army in September 1943 and was immediately selected as a cadre member of one of the units being formed at Camp Shelby, MS, known as Special Training Units. These units were formed to teach underprivileged soldiers unable to read or write to do so and enable them to go into other units in the Army and compete with their counterparts. Mr. Martinolich completed Infantry Basic Training in December 1943 and was assigned as a Supply Sergeant in these new units. In late 1945, these units were deactivated and he was transferred to the War Department Personnel Center Supply where he served until February 1946. When he was discharged from the Army in late February, he returned to Camp Shelby and was employed as a civilian in the War Department Personnel Center Supply until April 1946 after which time he was transferred to the Keesler Air Force Base Supply Account. He has served from ground floor up in this account (i.e., Property Accounting Supervisor, Property Accounting Office, and Management and Procedures Officer) and in his last position as Deputy Chief of Supply since 1968. His military decorations included the Army Good Conduct Medal, American Theater Operation Medal, Victory Medal, and Presidential Unit Citation Ribbon. Mr. Martinolich received numerous awards during his civilian career, including letters of appreciation, Outstanding Performance Awards, Quality Salary Increases, Sustained Superior Performance Awards, and Headquarters Air Training Command’s nominee for Outstanding USAF Supply Senior Manager (Civilian) of the Year 1986. He was further nominated for Gulf Coast Federal Employee of the Year and was Keesler’s nominee for Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Manager of the Year. JD was a lifelong member of St. James Catholic Church where he proudly served many years as an altar boy. Later he was one of the initial adorers when the St. James Perpetual Adoration Chapel was established and faithfully pulled his hour and volunteered his time to substitute for other adorers when they could not fulfill their hour. Mr. Martinolich was a member of BPO Elks in Gulfport, was a 3rd Degree member of the Knights of Columbus Council No. 11541 of Gulfport; and a life member of American Legion Post 119 of Gulfport. JD never married, and the reason being, as he so bluntly put it to a sister, was “I had five sisters. Enough said?” Mr. Martinolich is survived by his youngest sister, Mrs. Charles (Carol) Carden of Biloxi, numerous nieces, nephews, and friends. He was predeceased by his parents, a brother, Charles; and four sisters, Mrs. J.O. (Dot) Collins of Biloxi; Mrs. George (Margaret) Peranich of Gulfport; Mrs. Larry (Doris) Kansteiner of Katy, TX; and Mrs. Louis (Agnes) Gaddy of Houston and Katy, TX. The Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 1:15 p.m. on Monday, April 2, at St. James Catholic Church, 366 Cowan Rd., Gulfport, with visitation for family and friends at 12 noon. A Rosary will be recited at 1:00 p.m. just prior to the Mass celebration. Burial will be in the Biloxi National Cemetery, with military honors by the U.S. Army. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the St. Vincent de Paul Society of St. James Catholic Church, or the Alzheimer’s Association, since Mr. Martinolich’s mother and three of his sisters died of that disease. The family would like to thank the employees, nurses and aides at Brookdale Biloxi where he had resided for the past four and a half years. He never lost his dry sense of humor and enjoyed his stay there very much, stating that “this is a really nice hotel, and a lot of people eat here in the restaurant”. Their jelly and cracker budget will now decrease substantially. Bradford-O'Keefe Funeral Home, 15th Street, Gulfport is in charge of arrangements. Joseph Delmas Martinolich of Handsboro, 94, “JD” to family and friends, “Mr. Joe” to co-workers at Keesler Air Force Base, died Saturday, March 24, 2018.
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Past Services

Visitation

Monday, April 2, 2018

Starts at 12:00 pm

Bradford-O'Keefe Funeral Home - Gulfport

59 Wayside Rd, Stuart, VA 24171

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Rosary

Monday, April 2, 2018

Starts at 1:00 pm

Bradford-O'Keefe Funeral Home - Gulfport

59 Wayside Rd, Stuart, VA 24171

Enter your phone number above to have directions sent via text. Standard text messaging rates apply.

Mass of Christian Burial

Monday, April 2, 2018

Starts at 1:15 pm

Bradford-O'Keefe Funeral Home - Gulfport

59 Wayside Rd, Stuart, VA 24171

Enter your phone number above to have directions sent via text. Standard text messaging rates apply.

Cemetery

Bradford-O'Keefe Funeral Home - Gulfport

59 Wayside Rd, Stuart, VA 24171

Enter your phone number above to have directions sent via text. Standard text messaging rates apply.

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