Polka joe biography

In the fifth grade, Joe put together his first little band.
Pancerz was born in Jackson to Polish immigrants and served in the Navy during World War II. After the war, he worked at J.L. Peters Co. as.
Joe Oberiatis: Born in Cleveland Ohio, Joe Oberitis is third generation.

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IPA Hall of Fame Biography

Joe Zalewski was born in Toledo, Ohio, on June 26, 1963, the oldest of five children born to Rosemary (Bullinger) and Stanley Zalewski.

Joe’s first instrument is Drums, and he also plays Bass Guitar. Joe’s first band was called the Peanuts Polka Band and included his brothers Jim and John. In May 1978, Joe got his big break. At a wedding reception, Joe’s family was seated with IPA Hall of Famer Chet Zablocki. The next day Chet announced on his radio show that a young drummer was looking to play in a band. By that afternoon, Joe received a call from Dale Zielinski’s Golden Eagles. Joe joined the band and performed with the Golden Eagles from 1978 to 1980. In 1980, Duane Malinowski approached Joe to join his new group, the Polka Jamboree. Joe performed with both bands for a few months, eventually leaving the Golden Eagles to play with Polka Jamboree until early 1981.

Then Joe began playing bass guitar under the tutelage of Randy Krajewski. In May 1981, Joe joined Barb Zielinski’s Holy Toledo Polka Stars. Joe finally had the opportunity to travel the

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'Polka Joe' ending his career as Jackson radio personality

The last waltz is coming soon for a Jackson radio institution, Joseph “Polka Joe” Pancerz.

Polka Joe's last show will be Dec. 27 on WIBM, 1450 AM, ending 44 years as Sunday-morning host of "Polka Time."

"Forty-four years is enough," said Pancerz, 83. "What are you going to do? You get old."

Pancerz is enshrined in the Michigan Polka Hall of Fame. He has been recognized by Michigan governors, starting with William G. Milliken in 1973. Jackson declared a day in his honor 25 years ago. He has been toasted and roasted and is a fixture at Polish-flavored festivals and events.

But those honors just scratch the surface.

"I would say it's almost an understatement to call him a Jackson icon," said Marc Daly, program director at WIBM.

"People have family memories built around listening to his show when they were growing up. That's priceless."

Pancerz was born in Jackson to Polish immigrants and served in the Navy during World War II.

After the war, h

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Jackson radio icon 'Polka Joe' dies of leukemia at age 83

He called it the small post with a big heart, and on Tuesday, folks playing bingo around the bar at the Polish Legion of American Veterans on Page Avenue remembered a man with the biggest of hearts.

“Friendly,” Legion member Nora Boroughf said. “He always had a smile on his face.”

The longtime voice of “Polka Time” on Jackson radios, Joe Pancerz, who turned 83 on Sunday, died Tuesday morning at Hospice House. “Polka Joe,” as he was known, battled leukemia for three years, said his son Gary Pancerz.

“He was just Polka Joe,” Legion member Jeff Hritz said. “Always teasing people. He will be missed around here.”

After receiving treatment at the University of Michigan Hospital in Ann Arbor, Pancerz’s leukemia went into remission during the spring and summer. He began to feel sick again in September, his son said. He was admitted to Allegiance Health on Thursday and transferred to Hospice House on Friday.

“He was something else, a beautiful brother, couldn’t ask for a better brother,” said Chester Pancerz.

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