Joseph "Joe" Macri passed away on December 2, 2017 at his home in Tulsa, OK surrounded by his loving family. Joe was born on January 21, 1916 in Siderno Superior, Region of Calabria, Italy to Domenico and Maria (Parissi) Macri.
Joe had an amazing memory and often spoke about his younger years growing up in Italy. He told childhood stories about climbing olive trees where he would shake the olives free from the branches. Once he collected the fallen fruit he would sell the olives to earn money for his family. "I made 3 lire for the olives I gathered and less for a bundle of sticks!" He raised rabbits, pigeons and loved to work in his garden.
In 1926, Joe with his mother Maria, sister Carmella & brother, Frank, said "ciao" to their family. They made the journey to Naples where they boarded the ship for the long stormy passage to America. Once processed through Ellis Island, they continued their journey by train to South Bend, IN where his father was waiting. Years later, Joe explained that when he arrived in this new land it was the first time he had met his father. It all started with the end of WWI, when his father fought in the Italian Army and met American GI's. A group of Italians, including his father, heard stories of this amazing place called America. They made plans to start a new life, find a job, save money for a house and passage for their families.
Young Joe worked hard to help his family. He taught himself how to drive a car and found the love of his life, Mary Jean Heiden, or as he called her, "Jean". During their courtship, Joe was introduced to another love, "smashed potatoes". Whoever said, "a way to a man's heart is through his stomach" knew what they were talking about! They were married on March 30, 1940. Together they had 6 children, 4 daughters and twin sons who passed away shortly after birth in 1949. Lucky Joe, he was surrounded by women his entire life. Even the dog was a female! His children never heard them argue or raise their voices and never went without necessities. Joe was devastated by the loss of his beloved Jean in the 70th-year of their marriage. He instilled many values including that you must work hard to get you what you want out of life, "save your pennies till you have a dollar, put it in the bank and start again." Joe never started a fight or walked away from a challenge. He was an inspiration to everyone who met him.
Joe worked at the South Bend Foundry and on the Studebaker assembly line, building many models of automobiles. In 1963, when the Studebaker factory closed, he was handed a check for $500, which was all that was left of his 24 years of pension contributions. At age 47 he had to start over. With no available jobs in South Bend, he found employment at Electro Motive Division of General Motors in La Grange, IL where he painted locomotives. Joe lived in an all-male boarding house for 3 years until he and Jean were able to sell the house he built in South Bend. They relocated their family to Hickory Hills, a Chicago suburb.
Unless Notre Dame had a home football game, Joe worked any and all shifts he was offered. His love for Notre Dame stayed strong throughout his life. Joe ushered in the press box for 39 years and was honored with the "Gold Pass", allowing him into any ND home games. In 1981, Joe and Jean retired and moved to Tulsa, OK to be close to their youngest daughter. Jean's love for travel took to them to Italy, Hawaii, Alaska, California, Washington, Florida, Georgia, Montana and Alabama.
Joe was a member of the Loyal Order of Moose Lodge for over 50 years. He was quite a bowler and achieved a few 300 games. He enjoyed working in his garden, fishing, watching football, baseball and basketball. He loved playing games, especially Euchre. He hunted wild mushrooms, collected black walnuts and pecans (for Jean) and tinkered in his garage and shed. Being Italian, his garden was predominantly tomatoes, but also included, garlic, onions, radishes, strawberries and his well-loved fig trees. He took great pride sharing clippings from his fig trees to family and friends, always asking how "his babies" were doing.
He continued to usher at the University of Tulsa in his retired years. After the loss of his beloved Jean, his girls kept him busy with dinners, parties, adventures and trips. At 93, the Tulsa World wrote an article about his trip to attend the TU vs ND game. The interviewer was fascinated by his history with both universities. During the trip Joe walked on the ND field for the first time and toured the locker room. He also visited the new press box which is where he held his post for so many years. Joe stood at the edge of the "Hail Mary Tunnel" with the awaiting ND Football team. He even appeared on ESPN as Brian Kelly took the Fighting Irish onto the field! In the stands he mesmerized the ushers and University police with his many ND stories, which started in the early 1940's.
At age 94 the Tulsa World interviewed Joe, yet again. They were running a story about the B-17 Bomber that was in Tulsa. The interview started with his work at Studebakers during WWII.
The pilots met Joe the year before when his daughters took him to Jones Airport to see a part of history. While walking around the plane the pilot said, "she's pretty cool, isn't she?" Joe hesitated then replied, "these use to have Studebaker engines in them". The pilot said, "come with me". As he walked Joe around to the front and pointed at the existing engine plaque. As Joe looked up the pilot said softly with a smile, "and they still do." The pride in Joe's heart swept over his face. During the interview they asked Joe if he wanted to take a ride. He said with a laugh, "I'd love that, but I don't think I could get in her!" The pilot then informed Joe, "if you want a ride, we will get you in her!" and they did! After the ride they asked Joe what he thought of the ride. Joe smiled and replied, "Awesome. Loud, but awesome!"
Joe & Jean were the inspiration for Gina & Giuseppe's Italian Ristorante in Jenks, OK, which was owned and operated by their daughter and grandson. The base was founded on the Macri Family recipes being passed down through the generations. One of Joe's favorite times was when the Miss Oklahoma contestants would come in for dinner. He would ask, "when are the pretty girls coming?" not wanting to miss the opportunity to wish them "good luck" and have his photos taken with them. He even met Lauren Nelson, Miss America 2007 & Makenna Smith, Miss Oklahoma, 2007.
His most recent claim to fame was in 2017 when Joe was featured in the June edition of Men's Health Magazine. The article, "400 Years of Wisdom" was dedicated to four men who surpassed living a century. Joe had a full page spread where he shared his words of wisdom, "When you argue, it only gets you into trouble. I'd walk away." Following the print, Joe held out his celebrity duties by signing his page for anyone who came to visit.
Most of all, Joe was entirely dedicated to his wife, Jean. In her last years, he dressed her each morning, prepared her breakfast, made sure she took her medications and dressed her for bed. He always got a chuckle out of watching her poke the pecans he picked into her coffee cake. As her memory escaped her, he then became her memory. Cynthia moved in to assist and was Joe's main caregiver ever since. After Jean passed Joe could not talk about her without tearing up. He kept many of her pictures close by with flowers he picked from the garden. He would also talk to her before going to sleep. With comfort in his voice, Joe told his girls, "I can feel your mother while I am sleeping, she squeezes my leg." Their reply was, "she's just making sure you don't have another woman in there", which made him smile, and replied, "no one could replace your mother."
When family and friends were asked to describe Joe in a word, adjectives were flying. In only a few minutes over 57 words were shared. The top 12 included; "loving, gracious, patient, honorable, charismatic, soft hearted, wise, proud, loyal and soft spoken". Their favorite were, "inspiriting" and "rock star".
Joe was preceded in death by his parents; brother, Frank; sister, Carmella; infant twin sons, David and Michael; daughter, Joann Fowler; granddaughter, Laura Mills; grandsons, John Ramsey and Jamie Redden; great granddaughter, Elisabeth Mills; great grandson, James Smith.

Joe survived by:
Daughters:
Karen Marie (Bob) Campbell, Bixby, Oklahoma
Cynthia Jean Macri, Tulsa, Oklahoma
Jacquelyn Kay (Thomas) Pearson, Tulsa, Oklahoma
Grandchildren:
Venetia "Nina" Ann (Tim) Smith, Fortson, Georgia
Kristie Marie Campbell. Tulsa, Oklahoma
Robert (Jennifer) Campbell IV, Bixby, Oklahoma
Kimberly Michelle Campbell, Tulsa, Oklahoma
Christopher Michael Drover, Tulsa, Oklahoma
Lauren Cynthia Johnson, Dallas, Texas
Great grandchildren:
Taylor Mills, Erica Swafford, Shannon, Emily and William Smith, Stephanie, Annasette and Juliette Ramsey, and Kailyn, Jason, Robert and Jack Campbell
Great, great, grandchildren:
Hayden , Zachery, Christopher, Isis, Ellie, Jaydah-Elisabeth, Keylee, Leilah, Easton, Phoenix, Roxanne
Great, great, great, grandchildren:
Trinity, and one on the way

Funeral service will be 1:00 P.M., Wednesday, December 6, 2017, Saint Bernard of Clairvaux Parish (Tulsa). Moore's Southlawn 918-663-2233