obituaries

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...

Dec 13, 2022

HURLEY, Wis. – Bernice Irene Hannula, 89, of Hurley, passed away peacefully on Tuesday, Dec. 13, 2022, in Marquette, Michigan, with her loving family by her side.

Bernice was born on Dec. 2, 1933, in Republic, Michigan, a daughter of Arne and Aili (Carlson) Kerkela. She attended Republic High School and graduated in 1953.

Following...

Dec 13, 2022

MILLERSVILLE, Md. - Russell Matteus Jurmu, 90, of Millersville, passed away on Tuesday, Dec. 13, 2022.

Russell was born in Wakefield, Michigan to the late Oskari John and Evi Armeda Jurmu. He attended Anne Arundel Community College in Maryland and went on to receive his Master's degree from the University of Maryland Baltimore Campus.

Russell...

Dec 9, 2022

IRONWOOD, Mich. – Joyce Marie McDonald, 94, of Ironwood, passed away peacefully on Friday, Dec. 9, 2022.

Joyce was born on March 30, 1928, in Trout Creek, a daughter of John and Lillian (Ojala) Maki. She graduated from Trout Creek High School in 1946.

On June 1, 1946, Joyce married William McDonald, who preceded her...

Dec 2, 2022

Mark William Whitley

WAKEFIELD, Mich. - Mark William Whitley, 70, of Wakefield, passed away of  pneumonia with his family around him, on Friday, Dec. 2, 2022, at the Aspirus Ironwood Hospital, after many years of fighting and defeating multiple cancers.

Mark was born on March 26, 1952, in Wakefield, a son...

Nov 30, 2022

WAKEFIELD, Mich. - Dennis Owen "Bubba" LaMaide, 68, a lifelong resident of Wakefield, passed away on Wednesday, Nov. 30, 2022.

Dennis was born on Feb. 26, 1954, in Wakefield, a son of Sylvia Ann (Magnuson) and Maxin G. LaMaide Sr. He attended Wakefield High School and graduated in 1972.

Dennis was a chef in Michigan,...

Nov 29, 2022

IRONWOOD, Mich. - Darlene Annette Kangas Perlberg, 84, of Ironwood, passed away on Tuesday, Nov. 29, 2022, in Rochester, Minnesota, after suffering a stroke on Nov. 9, at the Mayo Clinic.

Darlene was born on Sept. 15, 1938, in Erwin Township, a daughter of Edward and Martha (Pohjola) Anderson. She graduated from Luther L. Wright High School...

Nov 26, 2022

IRONWOOD, Mich. – Carolyn Dianne Niemi, 81, of Ironwood, passed away on Saturday, Nov. 26, 2022.

Carolyn was born on July 10, 1941, in Erwin Township, the daughter of Eugene and Ruth (Lipponen) Minkin. She graduated at the top of her class from A.D. Johnston High School in Bessemer in 1959.

Carolyn worked as an...

Nov 25, 2022

MONTREAL, Wis. – James C. Dennis, 90, of Montreal, went to be with the Lord, on Friday, Nov. 25, 2022, at his home, with his family by his side.

A complete obituary will be published at a later date.

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