obituaries

Feb 24, 2023

MILLERSVILLE, Md. — Audrey Catherine Jurmu (nee Maki), 87, of Millersville, Maryland, passed away on Feb. 24, 2023.

Audrey was born on July 20, 1935, in Bessemer, Michigan, to the late Ilmo and Hilda Maki. She graduated from the University of Maryland earning a degree in education. She retired from teaching at St. Paul's Lutheran School in...

Feb 24, 2023

WAUSAU, Wis. - Shelley Leinon, 69, of Iron Belt, passed away Friday, Feb. 24, 2023, at Aspirus Wausau Hospital after a lengthy illness.

Shelley was born on Aug. 9, 1953, at Grand View Hospital in Ironwood, Michigan, to Gasper and Janice (Levra) Perrero. She attended grade school in Iron Belt and West Allis. She graduated from J.E....

Feb 20, 2023

BESSEMER, Mich. - James M. "Tiny" Paynter, 73, of Bessemer, passed away on Monday, Feb. 20, 2023, in Wakefield.

Jim was born in 1949, in Wakefield, a son of Walter and Vivian (Kelto) Paynter.

Jim was raised in Bessemer and graduated from A.D. Johnston High School with the class of 1968. He continued his education...

Feb 16, 2023

IRONWOOD, Mich. – Eero Johannes Haukkala, 91, a long-time resident of Ironwood, passed away peacefully early Thursday morning, Feb. 16, 2023.

Eero was born on March 22, 1931, in Wakefield, a son of Charles J. and Senja S. (Ekola) Haukkala, who had recently emigrated from Finland. He attended Wakefield High School and graduated in 1949.

...

Feb 16, 2023

IRONWOOD, Mich. – Steven Chatterson, 70, of Ironwood, passed away on Thursday, Feb. 16, 2023.

Cremation has taken place and no services are scheduled at this time.

Jerald Rocco, owner and manager of Lakeside Memorial Chapel Inc., in Wakefield, is assisting the family with arrangements.

Feb 15, 2023

Sandra Maria Dalbeck

WAKEFIELD, Mich. - Sandra Maria (nee Emig) Dalbeck, 77, of Wakefield, passed away on Wednesday, Feb. 15, 2023, at the Marshfield Medical Center in Marshfield, Wisconsin.

Sandi was born on Oct. 23, 1945, in Bessemer Township, a daughter of Gordon and Lydia (Anderson) Emig. She graduated from Luther L. Wright...

Feb 15, 2023

HURLEY, Wis. – James Frank Gheller, 87, town of Oma resident, passed away peacefully on Wednesday, Feb. 15, 2023, in Hurley, after a courageous battle with cancer.

James was born on Dec. 2, 1935, in Bessemer, Michigan, a son of Richard and Isabelle (Mussatti) Gheller. James was the second of seven children. He graduated from A.D. Johnston...

Feb 15, 2023

IRONWOOD, Mich. - Patricia Ann Severin, 84, of Ironwood, passed away peacefully on Wednesday, Feb. 15, 2023, after complications from dementia at the Villa Maria Health and Rehabilitation Center in Hurley, Wisconsin.

Patricia was born on Sept. 2, 1938, to Dominic and Ruth Jezek in Montgomery, Minnesota. Pat grew up with her two younger brothers, Dan and...

Feb 10, 2023

WAKEFIELD, Mich. – Sophie Pauline Drier, 94, of Wakefield, passed away peacefully on Friday, Feb. 10, 2023, with her loving family and extended family of caring staff of the Gogebic Medical Care Facility.

Sophie was born on Nov. 8, 1928, in Caspian, Michigan, a daughter of John and Rose (Dennis) Petroff.

She married Fred "Ben"...

Feb 8, 2023

HURLEY, Wis. - Gloria L. Maniaci, 90, of Hurley, passed away on Wednesday, Feb. 8, 2023.

Gloria was born on July 28, 1932, in Ironwood, Michigan, a daughter of Alphonse and Lauraine (Catori) Giannunzio. She attended St. Mary's School in Hurley and graduated in 1949 from the Hurley High School. Gloria was a proud cheerleader for the...

Feb 4, 2023

MARENISCO, Mich. – Julie A. Tice, 82, of Marenisco, died on Saturday, Feb. 4, 2023.

Julie was born on Oct. 2, 1940, in Waterloo, Iowa, a daughter of Roy C. "Russ" and Wilma Jean (Troehler) Russell. She graduated from Wheaton High School in Illinois and moved to Marenisco in 1968.

For 26 years, Julie was...

Jan 30, 2023

BESSEMER, Mich. – Lisa J. England, 64, of Bessemer, passed away on Monday, Jan. 30, 2023.

A complete obituary will be published at a later date.

Jerald Rocco, owner and manager of Lakeside Memorial Chapel Inc., in Wakefield, is assisting the family with arrangements.

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...