obituaries

Jan 26, 2021

WAKEFIELD, Mich. - Karen Ann Varian, 68, of Wakefield, passed away Tuesday, Jan. 26, 2021, at home, surrounded by her loving family.

Karen's obituary will appear in the Feb. 3, 2021, edition of the Wakefield News/Bessemer Pick & Axe.

Funeral arrangements have been entrusted to Jerald Rocco, owner and manager of Lakeside Memorial Chapel Inc.,...

Jan 24, 2021

BESSEMER, Mich. - William F. Barbacovi, 99, of Bessemer, passed away Sunday, Jan. 24, 2021.

Services will be held in the spring.

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

Jan 15, 2021

RAMSAY, Mich. – Loralee Radowski, 70, a longtime resident of Ramsay, went home to be with the Lord on Friday, Jan. 15, 2021.

Loralee was born on Oct. 27, 1950, in Wakefield, the daughter of Kathleen (Kubiak) and Eli Miljevich Jr. She attended Wakefield High School and graduated in 1968. After high school, she went to the...

Jan 14, 2021

BESSEMER, Mich. – Carmen Louise Mussatti, 83, of Bessemer, was peacefully called to heaven on Thursday, Jan. 14, 2021, at her home, surrounded by her family.

She was born on Oct. 17, 1937, to Verner and Fay (Peronto) Juntunen in Escanaba. Carmen attended the Bessemer Schools.

On Valentine's Day 1953, she married the love of...

Jan 14, 2021

WAKEFIELD, Mich. – Susan Beth Nurmi, 63, of Wakefield, passed away Thursday, Jan. 14, 2021.

Susie was born on May 29, 1957, in Waukegan, Illinois, a daughter of Rueben Johannes and Patricia Lois (Makela) Nurmi. She attended Wakefield High School and graduated in 1976.

Susie is survived by a daughter, Liisa (Ben) Cole; two grandchildren,...

Jan 12, 2021

SAXON, Wis. - Lorene Ann "Renee" Massoglia, 81, of Saxon, passed away peacefully at home on Tuesday, Jan. 12, 2021.

Renee was born on Aug. 31, 1939, in Ashland, the youngest child of Donald B. and Frances G. (Organist) Meredith. She graduated from Saxon High School in 1957.

On Oct. 3, 1959, she married Robert...

Jan 3, 2021

WAKEFIELD, Mich. – Theodore "Teddy" A. Finco Sr., 81, a lifelong resident of Wakefield, passed away peacefully Sunday, Jan. 3, 2021, at Aspirus Wausau Hospital in Wausau, Wisconsin, with his family by his side.

Ted was born on Nov. 5, 1939, a son of John and Domicella (Zielinski) Finco. He graduated from Wakefield High School with the...

Dec 28, 2020

BESSEMER, Mich. - Betty Carpenedo, 93, of Bessemer, died Monday, Dec. 28, 2020. She was born and raised in Bessemer, a daughter of William (Virgilio) and Clelia (Pagliero) Certano.

She grew up in Tilden Location and often reminisced about the frequent walks to town in all kinds of weather to get to work or to participate in...

Dec 26, 2020

GILE, Wis. – David A. Huotari, 63, of Gile, passed away Saturday, Dec. 26, 2020.

A celebration of life cook-out will be held in the summer of 2021.

Funeral arrangements have been entrusted to Jerald Rocco, owner and manager of Lakeside Memorial Chapel Inc., in Wakefield, Michigan.

Dec 25, 2020

HURLEY, Wis. – Joanna M. Saari, 84, of Hurley, passed away Friday, Dec. 25, 2020.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Monday, June 28, at 11 a.m., preceded by memorial visitation at 10 a.m., at St. Mary's Catholic Church, 404 Iron St., in Hurley.

The Rev. Frank Kordek, OFM, will be the...

Dec 24, 2020

HURLEY, Wis. – Doris E. Carlson, 100, of Hurley, formerly a lifelong resident of Ironwood, Michigan, passed away Thursday, Dec. 24, 2020.

Doris was born on July 25, 1920, a daughter of Paul and Clarice DeFelice. Doris attended St. Ambrose Grade School.

She worked at the A&P store where she met her husband, John. She...

Dec 23, 2020

WAKEFIELD, Mich. – Joseph "Joe" Miskovich, 75, of Wakefield, died Wednesday, Dec. 23, 2020, in Jackson, after a long battle with Dementia.

Joe was born on March 28, 1945, in Wakefield, a son of Mary Ann (Grivicich) and Steve Miskovich Sr. He attended Wakefield High School and graduated in 1964.

Joe proudly served his country...

Dec 22, 2020

MARENISCO, Mich. - Linda Marie Cole, 73, of Marenisco, passed away Tuesday, Dec. 22, 2020.

Linda was born on June 21, 1947, in Grand Rapids to Leroy and Elnora (Smith) Taylor. She was the fifth of 10 children.

On Aug. 2, 1963, Linda married Stanley Cole. They made their home in Marenisco for the last...

Dec 20, 2020

HURLEY, Wis. – Mary Samuelli, 102, of Hurley, passed away peacefully Sunday, Dec. 20, 2020, at the Villa Maria Health and Rehabilitation Center in Hurley after complications related to COVID-19.

Mary was born at home in Carey to Vincent and Maria (DeRosso) Stella on Dec. 23, 1917. She survived the first pandemic as a baby and almost...

Dec 20, 2020

WAKEFIELD, Mich. - Don Wakevainen, 91, of Wakefield, passed away Sunday, Dec. 20, 2020, at the Gogebic Medical Care Facility in Wakefield.

Don was born on Dec. 18, 1929, in Wakefield to Donald T. and Elsie (Ruha) Wakevainen. He graduated from Marenisco School.

Don served his country in the U.S. Army and enlisted in 1948...

Dec 19, 2020

WAKEFIELD, Mich. - Eileen Milda Stempihar, 91, of Wakefield, passed away peacefully Saturday, Dec. 19, 2020.

Eileen was born on Aug. 19, 1929, in Hurley, Wisconsin to Amund and Verna (Hill) Nygard. She attended Hurley High School and graduated in 1947.

On July 29, 1950, Eileen was united in marriage to Frank Stempihar at St....

Dec 19, 2020

WAKEFIELD, Mich. – Gerald E. Niemi, 76, of Wakefield, passed away Saturday, Dec. 19, 2020, at his home, with his family by his side.

Gerald was born on April 8, 1944.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Harold and Eleanor Niemi.

On Oct. 13, 1979, he married Kathleen A. Lampart. She...

Dec 18, 2020

IRONWOOD, Mich. – William "Bill" Suvanto, 80, a resident of Ironwood Township, entered into eternal life on Friday, Dec. 18, 2020, at Villa Maria Health and Rehabilitation Center in Hurley, Wisconsin after a long battle with Parkinson's disease.

William was born on June 10, 1940, in Ironwood Township the youngest of 12 children to Arvo and Emma...

Dec 17, 2020

WAKEFIELD, Mich. – Chester Oliver Raymond Sr., 91, of Wakefield, passed away Thursday, Dec. 17, 2020, in Ironwood.

Chester was born on March 5, 1929, on beautiful Lake Gogebic, a son of Frank Oliver and Vera Idessa (Cook) Raymond.

Chet proudly served his country in the U.S. Army during the Korean War. He was honorably...

Dec 16, 2020

BIG BEAR LAKE, Calif. - Caryl Faye Coxey, 87, of Big Bear Lake, tragically passed away Wednesday, Dec. 16, 2020, due to complications from COVID-19. Caryl was an incredibly strong fighter her entire life, but the insidious, sinister pandemic virus proved itself to be unconquerable.

Caryl was born on Sept. 12, 1933, and raised in Neenah, Wisconsin,...