IRONWOOD, Mich. - Claire J. Mesich, 76, of Ironwood, passed away peacefully in her sleep on Saturday, Sept. 2, 2023, at Aspirus Ironwood Hospital.

Claire was born on April 1, 1947, to Theresa (Verbos) Ruppe and Rudolph Ruppe of Ironwood. The only girl of four children, she had an older brother, Rudy, and two younger, Tom and Steve.

Claire got her early education at Newport School, graduating from Luther L. Wright High School. She began her college years at Gogebic Community College, and finished her bachelor's degree in elementary education at Northland College, where she met her future husband, also an education major, John Mesich.

Claire and John were united in marriage on June 20, 1970, at Holy Trinity Catholic Church in Ironwood; the celebrant was her uncle, the Rt. Rev. Fr. Thomas Ruppe.

In her younger years, Claire worked as a waitress for Pete and Mike at the P&M Restaurant, a job she always talked about fondly with her children, John, Andrew and Andrea. She had many stories about the P&M days, and good memories of Pete and Mike. She also worked for many years at the memorial building in Ironwood, before graduating college and putting her education degree to work as a 4th grade teacher in Bessemer. In the mid 70s, she and her husband relocated their family to Muskego, Wisconsin, where they resided for the next 30 years.

Claire and her daughter, Andrea, returned to Ironwood after the passing of her husband, John, in 2005.

Claire had a love for travel, her favorite places being Mackinac Island and Deadwood, South Dakota. She loved car rides, listening to the Dusty Thunder Podcast, watching wildlife, she loved her grand pups, Dojo, Simon and Yoshi, who she is now reunited with in Heaven's peace, and her favorite time in recent days was cuddling with her daughter's rescue pup, Clarabella. Claire was also charitable, her favorite charities being to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital and HOPE Animal Shelter.

Above all, she loved spending time with her family. Claire was happy to share a home with her daughter, Andrea, and especially enjoyed the times her sons, Andrew and John, would pay visits from Wisconsin, and bring her grandchildren up to visit. She loved her children and grandchildren with her whole heart. God and family were the most important things in her life.

Claire had a love for the Catholic church, and she was strong in her faith. She knew God was waiting for her, and was not afraid to be called home.

Claire is survived by her sons, John P. Mesich, Waukesha, Wisconsin, and Andrew P. Mesich, Greendale, Wisconsin; her daughter, Andrea T. Mesich, Ironwood; her grandchildren, John and Lenora (John's children), and Michael and Veronica (Andrew's children); as well as many beloved cousins, nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her husband, John M. Mesich, in 2005; her parents, Theresa, in 2005, and Rudolph, in 1966; and her brothers, Rudy, in 1989, Tom, in 2001, and Steve, in 2006.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Tuesday, Sept. 12, at 11 a.m., preceded by visitation in the St. Joseph Family Room at 10 a.m., at Our Lady of Peace Catholic Church, 108 S. Marquette St., in Ironwood, with the Rev. Brian Gerber as celebrant, and the Rev. Dominic Agyapong as concelebrant.

Rite of Committal and interment will take place at the Riverside Cemetery in Ironwood.

In lieu of flowers, for those desiring memorial contributions may be made to the St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, P.O. Box 1000 Dept. 142, Memphis, TN 38101-9908, or HOPE Animal Shelter, P.O. Box 261, Ironwood, MI 49938.

Jerald Rocco, owner and manager of Lakeside Memorial Chapel Inc, in Wakefield, is assisting the family with arrangements. To send online condolences or to share a memory, please go to lakesidememorialchapel.com.