obituaries

Apr 22, 2021

LA CROSSE, Wis. - Loretta Genevieve Radowski, 93, passed away peacefully on April 22, 2021, in La Crosse.

She was born in Wakefield, Michigan, on July 25, 1927, to Anton and Amelia (Capra) Cassietto. Loretta was a lifelong resident of Wakefield until moving to Marquette, Michigan, in 2016 and a year later to La Crosse, where she...

Apr 15, 2021

BESSEMER, Mich. - Josephine Ann Kopnick, 86, went to her heavenly home on April 15, 2021.

She is survived by three children, Mary McCready, Ann Marie Hunt and Joseph Kopnick; 10 grandchildren; a sister, Helen Schaller; daughters-in-law, Renee and Sherry Kopnick; and sons-in-law, Charles McCready and Phil Hunt. She also has more than 60 nieces and nephews...

Mar 30, 2021

IRONWOOD, Mich. – Terry Gene Decker, 62, of Ironwood, passed away Tuesday, March 30, 2021, in Duluth, Minnesota, after a brief illness.

Terry was born on March 13, 1959, in Waupaca, Wisconsin, the son of Robert E. and Goldie Lou (Georgeson) Decker. He graduated from Waupaca High School.

Terry proudly served his country in the...

Mar 28, 2021

WAKEFIELD, Mich. – Mary J. (Misuraco) Wiita, 92, of Wakefield, passed away peacefully in her sleep on Sunday, March 28, 2021, at her home, with her daughter, Jean, by her side, after a brief illness due to complications of COVID-19.

Mary was born on March 2, 1929, in Hurley, Wisconsin, the 17th child of 19 children to...

Mar 24, 2021

WAKEFIELD, Mich. – Jeanne E. Giackino, 82, of Wakefield, passed away peacefully Wednesday evening, March 24, 2021, at her home. Jeanne was born on Jan. 18, 1939, in Wakefield, the daughter of Waino A. "Wayne" and Lillian M. (Hongisto) Jarvela. She attended Wakefield High School and graduated in 1956. On her 19th birthday, Jan. 18, 1958, Jeanne was united...

Mar 18, 2021

LAKE GOGEBIC, Mich. - Pearl Margaret Kauranen Horvath, 99, of Lake Gogebic, passed away peacefully on Thursday morning, March 18, 2021, at the Villa Maria Health and Rehabilitation Center in Hurley, Wisconsin.

Pearl was born on Oct. 25, 1921, in Chicago, Illinois, a daughter of George and Margaret (Mielke) Geyer. She attended school at Dever Elementary in...

Mar 14, 2021

WAKEFIELD, Mich. - Donald B. "Don, Bear, Papa, Sheriff" Pezzetti, 82, a lifelong and proud resident of Wakefield, passed away peacefully on the morning of Sunday, March 14, 2021, at home with his loving family.

Donald was born on July 12, 1938, in Wakefield, a son of the late John Joseph and Anna Elizabeth (Johnson) Pezzetti. He...

Mar 14, 2021

IRONWOOD, Mich. – Francis "Frank" Joseph Rimkus Jr., 91, of Ironwood, died peacefully Sunday morning, March 14, 2021, at Westgate Nursing, Rehabilitation and Assisted Living Community in Ironwood.

Frank was born Dec. 10, 1929, in Ironwood, the son of Francis "Frank" Joseph Rimkus Sr. and Leocadia (Koleski) Rimkus. He attended Ironwood Schools and graduated from Luther L....

Mar 9, 2021

MARENISCO, Mich. - Mark Thomas Piotrowski, 67, of Marenisco, passed away Tuesday, March 9, 2021.

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

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

Mar 7, 2021

HURLEY, Wis. - Jeff Walli, 59, of Hurley, suffered a fatal heart attack on Sunday, March 7, 2021.

Jeffery David was born July 9, 1961, in Milwaukee, a son of David and Frances Walli. He loved celebrating his birthday and was so looking forward to celebrating his 60th birthday in July. Jeff attended Menomonee Falls East High...

Mar 2, 2021

BESSEMER, Mich. - Lowell J. "L.J., Papa, Mr. R., Papa R." Roderick, 69, passed away peacefully Tuesday, March 2, 2021, at home, surrounded by his greatest love of all, family.

He was born on April 6, 1951, at the Divine Infant Hospital in Wakefield, to Genevieve "Gena" (Ozzello) and Lowell C. "Rod" Roderick, and was raised in...

Feb 25, 2021

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Sidney Mark Fleishman, 94, of Tallahassee, a former resident of Wakefield, Michigan, died peacefully Thursday, Feb. 25, 2021, at home with members of his family by his side.

Born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and raised in New York City, he was the son of Max and Rose (Schenderovsky) Fleishman.

Sid served in the...

Feb 24, 2021

WAKEFIELD, Mich. – Kathleen (Kubiak) Miljevich, 88, a longtime resident of Wakefield, passed away Wednesday, Feb. 24, 2021. Kathleen was born on Sept. 12, 1932, in Phillips, Wisconsin, a daughter of John and Geraldine (Young) Kubiak. Kathleen and her family moved to Hurley, Wisconsin, where she attended the Hurley area schools and graduated in 1950. On April 14, 1950,...

Feb 19, 2021

WAKEFIELD, Mich. – Joseph M. Stelmark Jr., 78, of Wakefield, formerly a longtime resident of Bessemer, passed away Friday, Feb. 19, 2021.

Joseph was born on July 10, 1942, in Wakefield, son of the late Isabel V. (Olejniczak) and Joseph M. Stelmark Sr. He graduated from the old St. Sebastian Grade School and A.D. Johnston High School...

Feb 14, 2021

WATERSMEET, Mich. – Rudie Orlich, 92, of Watersmeet, entered eternal life on Sunday, Feb. 14, 2021.

Due to COVID-19 restrictions, a service will be held at a later date.

Funeral arrangements have been entrusted to Jerald Rocco, owner and manager of Lakeside Memorial Chapel Inc., Wakefield. Condolences may be expressed online at lakesidememorialchapel.com.

Feb 10, 2021

BESSEMER, Mich. - Helen R. ​(Reising​)​ Grebner, "Aunt Honey," 81, of Bessemer, formerly of Peoria, Illinois, passed away Wednesday, Feb. 10, 2021.

Helen was born​ on Ju​ne 21, 1939, in Peoria, a daughter of Joanna A. (Kovachevich) and Edward J. Reising Sr.   On Nov. 16, 1963, ​she married Bernard J. Grebner at St. Mark Catholic Church in...

Feb 10, 2021

HURLEY, Wis. - On Wednesday, Feb. 10, 2021, Roger "Ginty" Fontecchio, 78, of Hurley, passed away with his family by his side.

Roger was born to Herman "Nig" and Mary (Sterny) Fontecchio on Nov. 11, 1942. He attended St. Ambrose Catholic School in Ironwood, Michigan and graduated in 1960.

On Oct. 5, 1968, he was...

Feb 9, 2021

IRON BELT, Wis. - Shirlee Jane Lantta, 85, of W7870 Highway 77, Iron Belt, died Tuesday, Feb. 9, 2021, in Duluth, Minnesota.

She was born Jan. 1, 1936, in Mellen, daughter of the late Victor and Hilda (Martilla) Warren.

Shirlee graduated from Mellen High School in 1954, and was married to Robert G. Lantta on...

Feb 9, 2021

WAKEFIELD, Mich. – Eunice Marie (Dalbeck) Backlund, 93, of Wakefield, passed away Tuesday, Feb. 9, 2021.

Eunice was born on Nov. 13, 1927, the eldest child of Lloyd and Linnie Dalbeck, in a rustic logging camp cabin in Crystal Falls. Her younger siblings were Lorraine and Russell (both died of influenza in childhood), Duane (Christine) Dalbeck, Stratford,...

Feb 7, 2021

IRONWOOD, Mich. – Rudy John Perhalla, 87, of Ironwood, died Sunday, Feb. 7, 2021.

Rudy was born and raised in Ironwood, and graduated from Luther L. Wright High School. He served his country during the Korean War by joining the U.S. Navy. In 1958, he married his wife, Susan.

After an honorable discharge from the...