Joseph Elich Jr., aka Josip Elic, aka "Yokie", character actor best known for his role as "Bancini" in One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest, passed away on October 21, 2019 in New Jersey at the age of 98.
Joe was born in Butte, Montana on March 10, 1921, the second of six children. Growing up in Butte's notorious "Cabbage Patch"neighborhood, he attended Grant Elementary School and briefly worked in the Steward Mine as a teenager. During the Great Depression, he worked for the CCC and helped to build the trails in Thompson Park.
When WWII broke out, Joe enlisted in the Navy. Based in New Guinea, he served for three years, eleven months, seventeen days and twelve hours, attached to the original PT Boat Squadron 7 PT 127 and Ron 32.
After the war, Joe moved to New York where he discovered his first love - acting. For many years, he acted in Off-Broadway classics and burlesque shows. From there he moved to film and TV with appearances in "The Producers", "The Twilight Zone", and many, many others. Joe lost count but he appeared in more than 300 commercials with 27 running simultaneously.
Always the jokester looking for a good one liner, Joe would light up a room with his larger than life appearance and magnetic personality. But those close to him knew him for his generosity, kindness and especially for his love of animals. He and his closest friend and caregiver, actress Lee Meredith, shared that bond as they rescued literally hundreds of furry friends.
While Joe spent most of his life in New York City, his love for Montana and his family was obvious to all who knew him. He relished his visits to Butte, where he treated everyone to special dinners at his favorite Supper Club, Lydia's. Joe never forgot his roots and was instrumental in supporting the Granite Mountain Speculator Mine Memorial and The Lady of the Rockies.
Joe lived independently in NYC until his mid-nineties and was then lovingly cared for by his surrogate family until his death. Lee and her husband, Bert Stratford, welcomed Joe into their home, where he was embraced as "Uncle Joe" by their daughters and their families.
Joe was preceded in death by his parents, Joe and Martha (Cacish) Elich; siblings, John (Rosemarie) Elich, Anton Elich, Annie (Gary) Janikula, and Madeline (Charles) Neilson; brother-in-law, Jim Ronco; nephews, Tom Elich and John Elich; and the love of his life, Laverne Donnan Huffman.
Survived by his sister, Helen Ronco; nieces and nephews, JoAnn and Charles Lewis, Rosemary and Ron Granberg, Jimmy and Faye Ronco, Geri and Jake Hart, Jill and Mike Clay, George Stanisich and Joe Stanisich; dozens of adoring great-and great-great nieces and nephews; Lee, Bert and their family -- Erica and Gus Sedyn, their son Gus, and Kim Schmitt Thomas and her daughters Layla and Dylan; and special friends, David Orange, Marty Martin and Aurelee Stanisich.
A Memorial Service will be held on November 16th in River Edge, NJ. Donations may be made to the animal rescue fund: S.T.A.R.T. 11, PO Box 177, Elmwood Park, NJ 07407 or the Granite Mountain Memorial, 3435 Hannibal, Butte, MT 59701.
Montana Standard Obituary: November 6, 2019∼Actor.
Joe was born in Butte, Montana on March 10, 1921, the second of six children. Growing up in Butte's notorious "Cabbage Patch"neighborhood, he attended Grant Elementary School and briefly worked in the Steward Mine as a teenager. During the Great Depression, he worked for the CCC and helped to build the trails in Thompson Park.
When WWII broke out, Joe enlisted in the Navy. Based in New Guinea, he served for three years, eleven months, seventeen days and twelve hours, attached to the original PT Boat Squadron 7 PT 127 and Ron 32.
After the war, Joe moved to New York where he discovered his first love - acting. For many years, he acted in Off-Broadway classics and burlesque shows. From there he moved to film and TV with appearances in "The Producers", "The Twilight Zone", and many, many others. Joe lost count but he appeared in more than 300 commercials with 27 running simultaneously.
Always the jokester looking for a good one liner, Joe would light up a room with his larger than life appearance and magnetic personality. But those close to him knew him for his generosity, kindness and especially for his love of animals. He and his closest friend and caregiver, actress Lee Meredith, shared that bond as they rescued literally hundreds of furry friends.
While Joe spent most of his life in New York City, his love for Montana and his family was obvious to all who knew him. He relished his visits to Butte, where he treated everyone to special dinners at his favorite Supper Club, Lydia's. Joe never forgot his roots and was instrumental in supporting the Granite Mountain Speculator Mine Memorial and The Lady of the Rockies.
Joe lived independently in NYC until his mid-nineties and was then lovingly cared for by his surrogate family until his death. Lee and her husband, Bert Stratford, welcomed Joe into their home, where he was embraced as "Uncle Joe" by their daughters and their families.
Joe was preceded in death by his parents, Joe and Martha (Cacish) Elich; siblings, John (Rosemarie) Elich, Anton Elich, Annie (Gary) Janikula, and Madeline (Charles) Neilson; brother-in-law, Jim Ronco; nephews, Tom Elich and John Elich; and the love of his life, Laverne Donnan Huffman.
Survived by his sister, Helen Ronco; nieces and nephews, JoAnn and Charles Lewis, Rosemary and Ron Granberg, Jimmy and Faye Ronco, Geri and Jake Hart, Jill and Mike Clay, George Stanisich and Joe Stanisich; dozens of adoring great-and great-great nieces and nephews; Lee, Bert and their family -- Erica and Gus Sedyn, their son Gus, and Kim Schmitt Thomas and her daughters Layla and Dylan; and special friends, David Orange, Marty Martin and Aurelee Stanisich.
A Memorial Service will be held on November 16th in River Edge, NJ. Donations may be made to the animal rescue fund: S.T.A.R.T. 11, PO Box 177, Elmwood Park, NJ 07407 or the Granite Mountain Memorial, 3435 Hannibal, Butte, MT 59701.
Montana Standard Obituary: November 6, 2019∼Actor.
Joseph Elich Jr., aka Josip Elic, aka "Yokie", character actor best known for his role as "Bancini" in One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest, passed away on October 21, 2019 in New Jersey at the age of 98.
Joe was born in Butte, Montana on March 10, 1921, the second of six children. Growing up in Butte's notorious "Cabbage Patch"neighborhood, he attended Grant Elementary School and briefly worked in the Steward Mine as a teenager. During the Great Depression, he worked for the CCC and helped to build the trails in Thompson Park.
When WWII broke out, Joe enlisted in the Navy. Based in New Guinea, he served for three years, eleven months, seventeen days and twelve hours, attached to the original PT Boat Squadron 7 PT 127 and Ron 32.
After the war, Joe moved to New York where he discovered his first love - acting. For many years, he acted in Off-Broadway classics and burlesque shows. From there he moved to film and TV with appearances in "The Producers", "The Twilight Zone", and many, many others. Joe lost count but he appeared in more than 300 commercials with 27 running simultaneously.
Always the jokester looking for a good one liner, Joe would light up a room with his larger than life appearance and magnetic personality. But those close to him knew him for his generosity, kindness and especially for his love of animals. He and his closest friend and caregiver, actress Lee Meredith, shared that bond as they rescued literally hundreds of furry friends.
While Joe spent most of his life in New York City, his love for Montana and his family was obvious to all who knew him. He relished his visits to Butte, where he treated everyone to special dinners at his favorite Supper Club, Lydia's. Joe never forgot his roots and was instrumental in supporting the Granite Mountain Speculator Mine Memorial and The Lady of the Rockies.
Joe lived independently in NYC until his mid-nineties and was then lovingly cared for by his surrogate family until his death. Lee and her husband, Bert Stratford, welcomed Joe into their home, where he was embraced as "Uncle Joe" by their daughters and their families.
Joe was preceded in death by his parents, Joe and Martha (Cacish) Elich; siblings, John (Rosemarie) Elich, Anton Elich, Annie (Gary) Janikula, and Madeline (Charles) Neilson; brother-in-law, Jim Ronco; nephews, Tom Elich and John Elich; and the love of his life, Laverne Donnan Huffman.
Survived by his sister, Helen Ronco; nieces and nephews, JoAnn and Charles Lewis, Rosemary and Ron Granberg, Jimmy and Faye Ronco, Geri and Jake Hart, Jill and Mike Clay, George Stanisich and Joe Stanisich; dozens of adoring great-and great-great nieces and nephews; Lee, Bert and their family -- Erica and Gus Sedyn, their son Gus, and Kim Schmitt Thomas and her daughters Layla and Dylan; and special friends, David Orange, Marty Martin and Aurelee Stanisich.
A Memorial Service will be held on November 16th in River Edge, NJ. Donations may be made to the animal rescue fund: S.T.A.R.T. 11, PO Box 177, Elmwood Park, NJ 07407 or the Granite Mountain Memorial, 3435 Hannibal, Butte, MT 59701.
Montana Standard Obituary: November 6, 2019∼Actor.
Joe was born in Butte, Montana on March 10, 1921, the second of six children. Growing up in Butte's notorious "Cabbage Patch"neighborhood, he attended Grant Elementary School and briefly worked in the Steward Mine as a teenager. During the Great Depression, he worked for the CCC and helped to build the trails in Thompson Park.
When WWII broke out, Joe enlisted in the Navy. Based in New Guinea, he served for three years, eleven months, seventeen days and twelve hours, attached to the original PT Boat Squadron 7 PT 127 and Ron 32.
After the war, Joe moved to New York where he discovered his first love - acting. For many years, he acted in Off-Broadway classics and burlesque shows. From there he moved to film and TV with appearances in "The Producers", "The Twilight Zone", and many, many others. Joe lost count but he appeared in more than 300 commercials with 27 running simultaneously.
Always the jokester looking for a good one liner, Joe would light up a room with his larger than life appearance and magnetic personality. But those close to him knew him for his generosity, kindness and especially for his love of animals. He and his closest friend and caregiver, actress Lee Meredith, shared that bond as they rescued literally hundreds of furry friends.
While Joe spent most of his life in New York City, his love for Montana and his family was obvious to all who knew him. He relished his visits to Butte, where he treated everyone to special dinners at his favorite Supper Club, Lydia's. Joe never forgot his roots and was instrumental in supporting the Granite Mountain Speculator Mine Memorial and The Lady of the Rockies.
Joe lived independently in NYC until his mid-nineties and was then lovingly cared for by his surrogate family until his death. Lee and her husband, Bert Stratford, welcomed Joe into their home, where he was embraced as "Uncle Joe" by their daughters and their families.
Joe was preceded in death by his parents, Joe and Martha (Cacish) Elich; siblings, John (Rosemarie) Elich, Anton Elich, Annie (Gary) Janikula, and Madeline (Charles) Neilson; brother-in-law, Jim Ronco; nephews, Tom Elich and John Elich; and the love of his life, Laverne Donnan Huffman.
Survived by his sister, Helen Ronco; nieces and nephews, JoAnn and Charles Lewis, Rosemary and Ron Granberg, Jimmy and Faye Ronco, Geri and Jake Hart, Jill and Mike Clay, George Stanisich and Joe Stanisich; dozens of adoring great-and great-great nieces and nephews; Lee, Bert and their family -- Erica and Gus Sedyn, their son Gus, and Kim Schmitt Thomas and her daughters Layla and Dylan; and special friends, David Orange, Marty Martin and Aurelee Stanisich.
A Memorial Service will be held on November 16th in River Edge, NJ. Donations may be made to the animal rescue fund: S.T.A.R.T. 11, PO Box 177, Elmwood Park, NJ 07407 or the Granite Mountain Memorial, 3435 Hannibal, Butte, MT 59701.
Montana Standard Obituary: November 6, 2019∼Actor.
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