obituaries

Feb 14, 2020

BRUCE CROSSING, Mich. – Betty Johnson, 89, of Bruce Crossing, died Friday, Feb. 14, 2020, at The Lighthouse at Hancock Health and Rehabilitation Center.

Betty Joyce Marie (Niemi) Johnson was born in Kearsarge (#4 Location) on Dec. 20, 1930, the daughter of William and Lempi (Seppamaki) Niemi.

On Dec. 6, 1947, she married Burton Johnson...

Feb 1, 2020

MERRIWEATHER, Mich. – Philip Laurie Wirtanen, 75, of Merriweather, passed away suddenly on Saturday evening, Feb. 1, 2020. Philip was the beloved son of Toivo Richard and Siiri (Johnson) Wirtanen and born in Ironwood on July 15, 1944. He attended Ironwood schools and was active in the ski club and debate team at Luther L. Wright High School from...

Jan 28, 2020

BESSEMER, Mich. – Robert James Oie, 69, of Bessemer, passed away Tuesday, Jan. 28, 2020, at his home.

Robert was born on Nov. 8, 1950, in Ironwood, a son of Clyde and Mary (Novak) Oie. He attended Luther L. Wright High School and graduated in 1968. Robert continued his education at Gogebic Community College and earned an...

Jan 26, 2020

WAKEFIELD, Mich. – James M. Stratman, 70, a lifelong resident of Wakefield, passed away Sunday, Jan. 26, 2020, at his home.

James was born on April 9, 1949, in Bessemer Township, the son of William F. and Margaret E. (Bolen) Stratman. He attended Wakefield High School and graduated in 1967.

James worked as a saw...

Jan 26, 2020

IRONWOOD, Mich. – Max was the most unique philosophical, deep thinking and sensitive being. We are eternally grateful that he chose us to have the honor of knowing his true self and loving him. He was brilliant and kind and had an immeasurable depth in his spirit.

When he loved, he loved absolutely. He could be so...

Jan 22, 2020

BESSEMER, Mich. – Rose M. Blomberg, 91, of Bessemer, passed away Wednesday, Jan. 22, 2020.

Rose was born on July 14, 1928, in Lac du Flambeau, Wisconsin into what would eventually be a family of 10. As a young girl, she enjoyed the outdoors including fishing, waterskiing and playing music with her dad. Her idol was Loretta...

Jan 16, 2020

BESSEMER, Mich. – Carole Elizabeth Elliott, 86, a longtime resident of Bessemer, passed away Thursday, Jan. 16, 2020.

Carole was born on Dec. 31, 1933, in Minneapolis, a daughter of Everett H. and Ruth Elizabeth (Goyins) Williams. She attended Ironwood schools and graduated from Luther L. Wright High School in 1952.

In 1953, Carole married...

Jan 15, 2020

WAKEFIELD, Mich. – John M. Pachmayer, 100, of Wakefield, formerly a longtime resident of Ironwood, passed away Wednesday, Jan. 15, 2020.

John was born on April 8, 1919, in Ironwood, a son of Charles K. and Anna S. (Smelok) Pachmayer. He attended St. Ambrose High School in Ironwood and graduated 1937.

John proudly served his...

Jan 12, 2020

WAKEFIELD, Mich. – Richard G. Ozzello, 86, of Wakefield, went to be with Jesus Sunday, Jan. 12, 2020, surrounded by his loving family.

Richard was born on Nov. 17, 1933, in Wakefield, a son of James and Ada (Brockbank) Ozzello.

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

Jan 7, 2020

BESSEMER, Mich. – Dennis Eugene Kujanson, 72, a longtime resident of Bessemer, passed away Tuesday, Jan. 7, 2020.

Dennis was born on Aug. 26, 1947, in Ironwood, the son of Eugene Edward and Alice Elizabeth (Brown) Kujanson. He attended Ironwood schools and graduated from Luther L. Wright High School.

Dennis proudly served his country in...

Jan 6, 2020

IRONWOOD, Mich. – Kathleen (Kapets) Eklund, 74, of Ironwood, passed away Monday, Jan. 6, 2020.

Kathleen was born on June 12, 1945, in Ironwood, a daughter of John and Lucille (Piasecki) Kapets. She attended Norrie School and graduated from Luther L. Wright High School in 1963.

In 1964, she married Richard Eklund and they moved...

Jan 5, 2020

IRONWOOD, Mich. – Don Stanley, 82, of Ironwood, passed away Sunday morning, Jan. 5, 2020.

Don was born on May 28, 1937, in Iron River, a son of Edward and Florence (Sunn) Stanley. He attended Stambaugh Area High School and graduated in 1955. Don was an excellent student and an outstanding athlete in tennis, baseball, football and...

Dec 24, 2019

BESSEMER, Mich. – Nancy M. Berg, 77, of Bessemer, passed away peacefully in her sleep on Tuesday, Dec. 24, 2019.

Nancy was born Dec. 29, 1941, to V. Melvin and Shirley (Koskie) Jacobson, of South Bessemer. She grew up on a dairy farm and was very active in 4-H, showing dairy animals and other projects at the...

Dec 23, 2019

RAMSAY, Mich. – Kurt Harvey, 58, of Ramsay, passed away Monday, Dec. 23, 2019.

Kurt was born on July 2, 1961, in Wakefield, a son of Raymond G. and JoAnn (Banovetz) Harvey. He was a free spirit since birth. Kurt attended Bessemer schools and graduated from A.D. Johnston High School in 1981. He loved sports and excelled...

Dec 23, 2019

MONTREAL, Wis. – James William Talaska, 74, of Montreal, died early Monday morning, Dec. 23, 2019, at his home with his wife, Theresa and daughter, Tanya at his side.

Jim was born on Nov. 12, 1945, in Ironwood, Mich., a son of Robert and Bertha (Maki) Talaska. He attended Luther L. Wright High School and graduated in...

Dec 18, 2019

BESSEMER, Mich. – Karen Renee Jager, 57, of Bessemer, passed away on Wednesday, Dec. 18, 2019, surrounded by her loving family.

Renee was born on Feb. 17, 1962, in Wakefield, a daughter of Bernard L. and Karen Rachel (Grinivic) Pedrin. She grew up in Wakefield in a loving family along with her three sisters and a brother....

Dec 4, 2019

Gordon Henry Schneck

WAKEFIELD, Mich. – Gordon Henry Schneck, 97, a longtime resident of Wakefield, passed away peacefully Wednesday evening, Dec. 4, 2019, at the Gogebic Medical Care Facility in Wakefield, in the company of loved ones.

Gordon was born on May 31, 1922, in Brokaw, Wis., a son of Alfred and Viola...

Dec 2, 2019

WAKEFIELD, Mich. – Michael Dennis "Mike" Ravelli, 63, of Wakefield, passed away Monday, Dec. 2, 2019.

Mike was born Dec. 21, 1955, in Wakefield, son of the late Dennis and Judy (Pezzetti) Ravelli. He graduated from Wakefield High School and attended Northern Michigan University.

On June 26, 1976, Mike married Sherry Wienandt.

He...

Dec 1, 2019

IRONWOOD, Mich. – Herman Roy Stone, 71, of Ironwood, passed away peacefully Sunday, Dec. 1, 2019, at his home, surrounded by his loving family.

Herman was born on Oct. 5, 1948, in Washington, D.C., a son of Robert Herman and Mary Katherine (Lauzon) Stone.

He proudly served his country in the U.S. Navy during the...

Nov 26, 2019

IRON BELT, Wis. – Michael J. "Crunch" Soffietti, 61, of Iron Belt, lost his life due to complications from a long battle with multiple myeloma on Tuesday, Nov. 26, 2019, in the company of loved ones.

Michael was born on June 9, 1958, in Wakefield, Mich., a son of Eugene Battista "PeeWee" and Helen Ann (Vitich) Soffietti....