Obituary for Joseph L. "Buddy" Finco
Joseph L. "Buddy" Finco, 84, of Ironwood, Mich., died Sunday, March
6 ,
2011, in Sebring, surrounded by his loving family, following a brief
illness.
He
was born Aug. 10, 1926, in Ironwood, son of the late Joseph and Elizabeth
(Erickson) Finco, and graduated from Luther L. Wright High School in 1944. He
then served two years in the U.S. Navy in the North Atlantic during World War
II.
Following his honorable discharge, Buddy returned to Ironwood and was employed
with A.P. Laabs Housemoving. He then worked in the Geneva mine for 15 years,
retiring from White Pine Copper Co. in April, 1985.
He was a member of Our Lady of Peace Catholic Church in Ironwood, where he sang
in the Men's Choir and Resurrection Choir. He also belonged to Ironwood Knights
of Columbus Council No. 1396 and Ironwood American Legion Post 5.
Buddy was a 51-year camper at Lake Gogebic, and enjoyed hunting and fishing. He
especially enjoyed spending winters in Sebring.
On May
8 ,
1948, he was married to Barbara L. "Barb" Kuiawa at the Immaculate
Conception Catholic Church in Wakefield, Mich. She survives.
Also surviving are a son, Joseph P. (Toni), Mukilteo, Wash.; three daughters,
Roberta (William) Hovey, Olathe, Kans., Lynda (Joe) Fairfield, Sebring, and
Susan (Donald) Bull, Valparaiso, Ind.; five grandchildren, one grand-daughter-in
law, two step-grandchildren, seven great-grandchildren, and six step-great
grandchildren; three brothers, Robert (Joyce), Castor, La., and Gerald (Geri)
and Bernard (Helen), both of Ironwood; brother-and-sisters-in-law, Leo and Joan
Kuiawa and Grace Kuiawa, all of Kalkaska, Mich., Sophie Kuiawa, Green Bay,
Wis., and Mary Finco, Cudahy, Wis.; an aunt, Gert Newberg, Ironwood; and
numerous nieces, nephews, and cousins.
Besides his parents, he was preceded in death by a grandson, Kevin Fairfield; a
brother, James; and a sister, Lois Gayan.
In accordance with Buddy's wishes, cremation has taken place.
Visitation will be Friday, July 8, from 10 to 11 a.m., in the St. Joseph Family
Room at Our Lady of Peace Church, followed by a Memorial Mass celebrated at 11
a.m., with the Rev. Darryl J. Pepin, celebrant.
Full military honors will be accorded by the Ironwood American Legion Post 5
Honor Guard.
In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred to the Bud and Donna Somers Hospice
House, 1110 Hammock Rd., Sebring, Fla. 33870.
Online
condolences may be given to Buddy's family at
mckevittpatrickfuneralhome.com.
Local arrangements are with McKevitt-Patrick Funeral Home and Cremation Services
of Ironwood.
6 ,
2011, in Sebring, surrounded by his loving family, following a brief
illness.
He
was born Aug. 10, 1926, in Ironwood, son of the late Joseph and Elizabeth
(Erickson) Finco, and graduated from Luther L. Wright High School in 1944. He
then served two years in the U.S. Navy in the North Atlantic during World War
II.
Following his honorable discharge, Buddy returned to Ironwood and was employed
with A.P. Laabs Housemoving. He then worked in the Geneva mine for 15 years,
retiring from White Pine Copper Co. in April, 1985.
He was a member of Our Lady of Peace Catholic Church in Ironwood, where he sang
in the Men's Choir and Resurrection Choir. He also belonged to Ironwood Knights
of Columbus Council No. 1396 and Ironwood American Legion Post 5.
Buddy was a 51-year camper at Lake Gogebic, and enjoyed hunting and fishing. He
especially enjoyed spending winters in Sebring.
On May
8 ,
1948, he was married to Barbara L. "Barb" Kuiawa at the Immaculate
Conception Catholic Church in Wakefield, Mich. She survives.
Also surviving are a son, Joseph P. (Toni), Mukilteo, Wash.; three daughters,
Roberta (William) Hovey, Olathe, Kans., Lynda (Joe) Fairfield, Sebring, and
Susan (Donald) Bull, Valparaiso, Ind.; five grandchildren, one grand-daughter-in
law, two step-grandchildren, seven great-grandchildren, and six step-great
grandchildren; three brothers, Robert (Joyce), Castor, La., and Gerald (Geri)
and Bernard (Helen), both of Ironwood; brother-and-sisters-in-law, Leo and Joan
Kuiawa and Grace Kuiawa, all of Kalkaska, Mich., Sophie Kuiawa, Green Bay,
Wis., and Mary Finco, Cudahy, Wis.; an aunt, Gert Newberg, Ironwood; and
numerous nieces, nephews, and cousins.
Besides his parents, he was preceded in death by a grandson, Kevin Fairfield; a
brother, James; and a sister, Lois Gayan.
In accordance with Buddy's wishes, cremation has taken place.
Visitation will be Friday, July 8, from 10 to 11 a.m., in the St. Joseph Family
Room at Our Lady of Peace Church, followed by a Memorial Mass celebrated at 11
a.m., with the Rev. Darryl J. Pepin, celebrant.
Full military honors will be accorded by the Ironwood American Legion Post 5
Honor Guard.
In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred to the Bud and Donna Somers Hospice
House, 1110 Hammock Rd., Sebring, Fla. 33870.
Online
condolences may be given to Buddy's family at
mckevittpatrickfuneralhome.com.
Local arrangements are with McKevitt-Patrick Funeral Home and Cremation Services
of Ironwood.