obituaries

Jan 27, 2023

IRONWOOD, Mich. – Michael K. Sweeney, 69, of Ironwood, passed away unexpectedly at his home on Friday, Jan. 27, 2023.

He was born on Oct. 21, 1953, in Allegan, Michigan, a son of Leonard and Barbara (Van Strien) Sweeney.

Mike's early grade schooling began in Nuremberg, Germany. He had many fond memories of living in...

Jan 26, 2023

WAKEFIELD, Mich. - Ossi Juhani Laitamaki, 76, died unexpectedly on Thursday, Jan. 26, 2023, at the Aspirus Ironwood Hospital.

Ossi was born on Nov. 20, 1946, in Kauhajoki, Finland, a son of Nikolai and Taimi (Hakamaa) Laitamaki. Following high school graduation, he served in the Finnish National Defense.

Ossi came to the United States at...

Jan 21, 2023

IRONWOOD, Mich. - Betty Ruth (nee Duffer) Mathis, 85, of Ironwood, was born in Nashville, Tennessee, on Feb. 26, 1937, and passed away through heavenly gates on Saturday, Jan. 21, 2023.

Betty was the oldest daughter of William Duffer and Betty Burnett Thacker.

On Sept. 11, 1955, she married Wayne J. Mathis in Long Beach,...

Jan 14, 2023

BRUCE CROSSING, Mich. – Vera Jean (nee Kananen) Rentmeester, 65, of Bruce Crossing, passed away on Saturday, Jan. 14, 2023, at the Aspirus Keweenaw Hospital in Laurium.

Vera was born on Feb. 27, 1957, in Ontonagon, a daughter of Fred E. and Esther E. (Larson) Kananen.

On Aug. 27, 1983, she married Randall Wayne Rentmeester...

Jan 11, 2023

HURLEY, Wis. – Charlotte Elizabeth Morzenti, 84, of Hurley, went to heaven peacefully with her family at her side on Wednesday, Jan. 11, 2023.

The Frost Home for Funerals in Ashland and Jerald Rocco, owner and manager of Lakeside Memorial Chapel Inc., in Wakefield, Michigan, is assisting the family. To send online condolences or to share a...

Jan 10, 2023

IRONWOOD, Mich. - Elvie Vivian Strand, 94, of Ironwood, passed away peacefully on Tuesday, Jan. 10, 2023, at Sky View Nursing Center in Hurley, Wisconsin, surrounded by her loving daughters.

Elvie was born on Jan. 25, 1928, in Ironwood, to John and Vivian Makela. She graduated from Luther L. Wright High School in 1945.

After...

Jan 9, 2023

BESSEMER, Mich. – Margaret "Peg" Kathryn Lackman, 91, passed away peacefully Monday, Jan. 9, 2023, in Hurley, Wisconsin.

Margaret was born Oct. 23, 1931, in Kalamazoo, daughter of Lyscom Dexter Brigham and Florence Roselle Hoard Brigham.

Her paternal great-great-grandfather was Curtis Brigham, a privateer out of Boston, Massachusetts, during the War of 1812. He came...

Jan 6, 2023

MARENISCO, Mich. – Viola May Nurmi, 84, of Marenisco, passed away peacefully on Friday, Jan. 6, 2023.

Viola was born on Oct. 25, 1938, in Louisville, Illinois, number nine of 13 children to Charles B. and Goldiss May (Sparks) Bryan. She graduated from Louisville High School.

For 20 years, Viola was employed as a secretary...

Jan 5, 2023

WAKEFIELD, Mich. – Norma L. Hakamaki, 91, of Wakefield, passed away peacefully on Thursday, Jan. 5, 2023.

Norma was born to John and Emma (Eliason) Niemela on Sept. 26, 1931, at Divine Infant Hospital in Wakefield. She was the last of 11 children of the John and Emma Niemela family.

Norma attended Central Elementary School...

Jan 5, 2023

IRONWOOD, Mich. – Sarah Lynn Rhenlund, 56, of 165 E. Michigan Ave., in Ironwood, passed away peacefully on Thursday, Jan. 5, 2023, at Aspirus Ironwood Hospital, surrounded by her loving family. She fought a courageous battle with metastatic breast cancer for 11 years.

Sarah is survived by her mother, Sharon (Brian) Laabs, Ironwood; three brothers, Ronald (Stephanie)...

Jan 5, 2023

WAKEFIELD, Mich. – Kelly J. Miskovich, 80, a lifelong resident of Wakefield, passed away on Thursday, Jan. 5, 2023, at his home, after a courageous battle with cancer.

Kelly was born on Dec. 5, 1942, in Wakefield, a son of the late Mary (Grivicich) and Steve Miskovich, the fifth of 13 children.

On Feb. 24,...

Jan 4, 2023

BLOOMINGTON, Minn. – Kenneth Isaac Wuorinen, 85, of Bloomington, passed away at Fairview Southdale Hospital in Edina, on Wednesday, Jan. 4, 2023.

Kenneth was born on Sept. 14, 1937, in Wakefield, Michigan, a son of Matt Walfred and Saima Salina (Johnson) Wuorinen. He attended Wakefield schools and graduated in 1956. Kenneth was active on the Wakefield track...

Jan 1, 2023

BESSEMER, Mich. - Virginia "Ginger" (nee Jurasin) Bennetts, 81, of Bessemer, passed away peacefully on Sunday, Jan. 1, 2023, surrounded by her loving family.

Ginger was born on Oct. 15, 1941, in Bessemer, a daughter of Joseph and Julia (Serbin) Jurasin. She attended St. Sebastian Catholic School. She graduated from the A.D. Johnston High School in Bessemer...

Dec 29, 2022

IRONWOOD, Mich. - Joy J. (nee Jarvi) Kraynak, of Brogan Street, in Ironwood, passed away on Thursday, Dec. 29, 2022, at St. Luke's Hospital in Duluth, Minnesota.

She was born on July 24, 1954, in Superior, Wisconsin, a daughter of Veikko and Pearl Jarvi.

Joy graduated from Luther L. Wright High School in 1972. She...

Dec 28, 2022

RAMSAY, Mich. – Frank Leone, 79, of Ramsay, passed away peacefully on Wednesday, Dec. 28, 2022.

A celebration of Frank's life will be held at a later date.

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

Dec 27, 2022

KIMBALL, Wis. - Carolyn Ann Alonen, 60, of Kimball, passed away peacefully on Tuesday, Dec. 27, 2022, after a brief, but courageous battle with cancer with her loving family by her side.

Carol was born on Dec. 9, 1962, to Roger and Kathleen (Raivio) Baker in Kenosha. She was a 1981 graduate of J.E. Murphy High School...

Dec 25, 2022

BERGLAND, Mich. - Barbara J. Crave, 79, of Bergland, passed away on Sunday, Dec. 25, 2022.

She was born on Sept. 9, 1943, in Iron Mountain, a daughter of Glen and Libby Ernst.

On Jan. 2, 1965, Barbara married Michael E. Crave at St. Jude Catholic Church in Beloit, Wisconsin.

She retired from...

Dec 24, 2022

MARENISCO, Mich. – Sydney Pearl McGeshick, 13, of Marenisco, passed away on Saturday, Dec. 24, 2022, at her home, surrounded by her loving family. Sydney was born on Dec. 4, 2009, in Woodruff, Wisconsin, to Candice Lillie and Howard McGeshick. Sydney is survived by her parents; three sisters, Zoey Hardes, and Kachine and Wynter McGeshick; a brother, Dallas McGeshick;...

Dec 20, 2022

BESSEMER, Mich. – Scott Edward Hastings, 59, of Bessemer, passed away peacefully on Tuesday, Dec. 20, 2022, at his home, surrounded by his loving family.

Scott was born on Nov. 21, 1963, in Wheeling, Illinois.

On March 5, 1988, he married the love of his life, Debbie Waurio.

Scott was employed with Nokia...

Dec 18, 2022

BESSEMER, Mich. - Michael Anthony Servia, 64, of Bessemer, died suddenly on Sunday, Dec. 18, 2022. Michael was a graduate of A.D. Johnston High School in Bessemer, and he retired from the United Parcel Service in 2020. He worked at UPS for more than 40 years. Prior to working at UPS, he worked alongside his family at Stan's Big...