obituaries

Sep 5, 2023

IRONWOOD, Mich. — Joanne K. Anderson Magdziak, 86, a longtime resident of Ironwood, passed away Tuesday, Sept. 5, 2023, unexpectedly in her home.

Joanne was born in Ironwood, on Nov. 7, 1936, to Carl E. Anderson and Lily Iris (Paull) Anderson. Joanne graduated from Luther L. Wright High School in 1954. Following graduation she went to Detroit...

Sep 2, 2023

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...

Aug 22, 2023

WAKEFIELD, Mich. – Carl G. Makela, born April 15, 1923, in Wakefield, and died on Tuesday, Aug. 22, 2023, at the age of 100, at the Villa Maria Health and Rehabilitation Center in Hurley, Wisconsin. His parents were John and Maryann (Hill) Makela. Carl lived his entire life in Wakefield. He was married for 53 years to Catherine Gerovac...

Aug 16, 2023

Leo Matt Zalaznik Jr., 72, of Mercer, unexpectedly passed away peacefully on Aug. 16, 2023, at home.

God  definitely broke the mold when Leo was born to the late Leo and Margaret (Suding) Zalaznik on June 29, 1951, in Superior. After graduating in 1969 from Superior High School he lived a life of strong faith, no regrets,...

Aug 12, 2023

OSHKOSH, Wis. — Our beloved mother, Merrie Gabrielle (Bergquist) Giannunzio, 78, passed away after a 13-year battle with salivary cancer. She went with the Lord on Saturday, Aug. 12, 2023, at home, surrounded by her children, Jamie, Bree and Ian; son-in-law, Beau.; and grandchildren, Isabella, Mckenzie, Jordan and Kolten. Also present were Nancy Lanctoe and Gout Deng. She was...

Aug 9, 2023

WAKEFIELD, Mich. - Eugene "Bingo" Vittone, 92, of Wakefield, passed away peacefully on Wednesday, Aug. 9, 2023, at Wings of Hope Hospice in Allegan, Michigan, holding his daughter, Jill's hand. He was greeted in Heaven by his wife, Charlotte, who asked, "Eug, what took you so long?"

Bingo was born on July 19, 1931, to Annie and...

Aug 9, 2023

IRONWOOD TOWNSHIP, Mich. - William John "Bobo" Mukavitz of Ironwood Township, passed away peacefully on Wednesday, Aug. 9, 2023, at the age of 90, with his beloved family and friends by his side.

William was born in Newport Heights on Sept. 8, 1932, to father, Rudolph Mukavitz, and mother, Annabel (Bonovetz) Mukavitz. Bobo spent his childhood in...

Aug 7, 2023

IRONWOOD, Mich. - Scott M. Schlicher, 61, of Ironwood, passed away on Monday, Aug. 7, 2023, at Aspirus Ironwood Hospital in Ironwood.

Scott was born on April 28, 1961, in Beaver Dam, Wisconsin. He graduated from St. Ambrose High School and Gogebic Community College. He continued his education at the University of Wisconsin-Platteville. After which he returned...

Aug 4, 2023

MARENISCO, Mich. - Patricia (nee Miller) Harris, of Marenisco, passed away peacefully on Aug. 4, 2023, after a short illness, at the age of 89.

The daughter of John W. and Alvina L. (Sonnenberg) Miller, she was born on May 18, 1934.

Patricia was preceded in death by her beloved husband, Glenn D. Harris II....

Jul 30, 2023

IRONWOOD, Mich. - Richard Arthur Pallin, 88, of Ironwood, passed away peacefully Sunday, July 30, 2023, at Aspirus Eagle River Hospital, Eagle River, Wisconsin, surrounded by his loving family.

Rick was born Oct. 26, 1934, in Ironwood, a son of Gustaf and Blanche (LaForge) Pallin.

He attended St. Ambrose Catholic High School, graduating in 1953....

Jul 25, 2023

EWEN, Mich. - Janet Leona Wolfe, 88, of Ewen, passed away peacefully on Tuesday, July 25, 2023, at her home surrounded by her family.

Janet was born on Nov. 9, 1934, in Bruce Crossing, to Waino and Saima Rajala. She grew up with two sisters, Shirley and Judy. Janet worked as a cook at Ewen-Trout Creek School...

Jul 23, 2023

RAMSAY, Mich. – Kenneth Howard Ahola, 83, of Ramsay, passed away peacefully on Sunday, July 23, 2023, at Aspirus Wausau Hospital in Wausau, Wisconsin, with his loving wife, Betty, by his side.

Kenneth was born on March 16, 1940, in Bruce Crossing, a son of John Howard and Lina Gladys (Koistinen) Ahola. He attended Ewen High School...

Jul 21, 2023

BESSEMER, Mich. - Christine Evelyn Maki Lukach, went home to be with the Lord on Friday, July 21, 2023, at the age of 72, after a long battle with Alzheimer's disease. She was surrounded by loved ones at her home.

Chris was born to Toivo A. and Jeanette (Walitalo) Maki on Oct. 16, 1950. Together Toivo and...

Jul 20, 2023

WAKEFIELD, Mich. – June L. Wienandt, 95, of Wakefield, died on Thursday, July 20, 2023, at the Gogebic Medical Care Facility in Wakefield. She entered the nursing home on May 5, 2023. She had been in failing health for several weeks and was under hospice care in the facility for the last 2-3 days prior to her death.

Jul 19, 2023

IRONWOOD, Mich. – Hubert John Mewbourn, 68, of Ironwood, passed away on Wednesday, July 19, 2023, at Essentia Health-St. Mary's Medical Center in Duluth, Minnesota.

John was born on Feb. 10, 1955, in Ironwood, a son of Herbert and Kathleen (Kraynak) Mewbourn. He attended Luther L. Wright High School and graduated in 1974.

John proudly...

Jul 13, 2023

ANTIGO, Wis. - Judyth "Judy" Ellen Childers, 76, of Antigo, Wisconsin, passed away on July 13, 2023, in her hometown, Marenisco, Michigan. Born on October 6, 1946, in Houghton, Michigan, she was the daughter of Gwendolyn and Richard Heard. Judy was preceded in death by her parents, Gwendolyn (Crago) and Richard Heard, former husband John Childers Jr., her birth...

Jul 13, 2023

TROUT CREEK, Mich. - Phyllis Gustafson, 88, of Trout Creek, passed away Thursday, July 13, 2023, at Bayside Village Nursing Home in L'Anse.

Phyllis was born in Trout Creek, on June 15, 1935, to Edward and Grace (Cronkright) Tibbits. She married her high school sweetheart, Ralph Gustafson, on Oct. 10, 1954, and they made their home in...

Jul 10, 2023

WAKEFIELD, Mich. – Ronald Lee "Ronnie" Lillie, 57, of Wakefield, formerly of Marenisco, passed away on Monday, July 10, 2023, after a brief illness.

Ronnie was born on June 4, 1966, in Three Rivers, Michigan, a son of Wanna M. (Taylor) and Edward E. Lillie Sr.

He loved to work and was employed at the...

Jul 5, 2023

Roy R. Surprise

WAKEFIELD, Mich. – Roy R. Surprise, 71, of Wakefield, passed away on Wednesday, July 5, 2023, near Gould City, Michigan.

Roy was born to Ethel (Bragdon) and Roy Surprise of Long Island, New York, on May 2, 1952. Roy attended Oscoda Area High School, Oscoda, Michigan, before entering the U.S. Air Force...

Jun 29, 2023

WAKEFIELD, Mich. – Joyce Ann LeGassa, 77, of Wakefield, passed away on Thursday, June 29, 2023, at the Marshfield Medical Center in Marshfield, Wisconsin.

Joyce was born on Jan. 16, 1946, in Wakefield, a daughter of Paul and Lolita (Goodenow) Joki. She graduated from Wakefield High School and continued her education at Northern Michigan University and earned...