Joseph C. Colaluca, 84, of Platteville, WI died on December 28, 2015. He was born on February 16, 1931 in New Castle, PA to Romeo and Mary Colaluca. He was married to Mary Ruth Lorick on December 19, 1953 in Columbia, South Carolina.
Mr. Colaluca graduated from the Cincinnati Conservatory of Music in 1953. He was a graduate assistant at the Conservatory while working on his master’s degree. He also did graduate studies towards a doctoral degree at the Conservatory and at the University of Iowa.
During his student days, he played with the Cincinnati Symphony and the Cincinnati Summer Opera. He was a member of orchestras for traveling Broadway shows and the Hollywood Ice Review. From 1952 to 1955, he played with the Third Army Band in Atlanta, GA. He taught music at both the high school and college level.
He was a faculty member at Loras College from 1970 to 1992 and was chair of the Department of Music for a number of years. He was a member of the Dubuque Symphony Orchestra and his dance band trio performed throughout the tri-state area.
Mr. Colaluca enjoyed golf and other sports. He was particularly fond of watching his granddaughters play volleyball in high school and college.
Surviving him are his son, Joseph Jr. (Pamela) Colaluca of Harrisburg, PA, daughter, Deborah (James) Gardner of West Bend, WI, seven grandchildren, eleven great grandchildren, a sister, Delores Butler of Pittsburgh, PA, a sister-in-law, Julia Colaluca of New Castle, PA.
He was preceded in death by his loving wife Mary Ruth, his parents Romeo and Mary Colaluca, and his brothers Pat, Romeo Jr. and Frank.
A Memorial Mass of Christian Burial will be held at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Platteville, WI on January 22, 2015 at 4:00 pm. A gathering to celebrate Joe’s life will be held following the memorial Mass. In lieu of flowers, memorials can be made to “The Cottages”, a wonderful memory care facility in West Bend, WI, at The Cottages, 6090 Scenic Drive, West Bend, WI 53095.
The Schmidt Funeral Home of West Bend is serving the family. On-line guestbook and condolences available at www.schmidtfuneralhome.com.