Carl Robert "Ole" Erickson, 85, also known as "Uncle Buddy", of 604 E. Tamarack St., Ironwood, passed away peacefully Saturday, April 3, 2010, in his home, surrounded by his loving wife, his nine children, and their families.      He was born March 5, 1925, in Ironwood, son of the late Henry and Anna (Johnson) Erickson, attended K.P. Silberg Grade School in Erwin Township, and graduated from Luther L. Wright High School. He received his degree as a master mechanic from Gogebic Community College.      Ole proudly served his country in the U.S. Army as a Military Policeman during World War II in the European Theater of Operations, receiving the American Theater Campaign Medal, the EAME Campaign Medal with 1 Bronze Star, Good Conduct Medal, Meritorius Unit Award, and the World War II Victory Medal.      Following his honorable discharge on Feb. 9, 1946, he worked for a short time in Detroit at Ford Motor Co. He then returned to Ironwood and worked in several area mines, retiring as a diesel mechanic from White Pine Copper Co. in 1976.        Ole was a member of Salem Lutheran Church in Ironwood and Ironwood Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 1823. He was an avid sportsman, enjoying fishing and hunting, but he especially enjoyed spending time with his many grandchildren and great-grandchildren.       Ole was a loving husband, father, grandfather, grandpa greats, uncle, and friend who will be deeply missed and is now resting in the loving arms of Christ.       On July 19, 1947, he was married to Virginia "Gena" Buccanero in Hurley, Wis.       Surviving are his wife, Gena, of 62 years; four sons, Jan (Dolly), Jay (Sally), and Jamie (Irene), all of Ironwood, and Jon (Donna), Ironwood Township; five daughters, Diane Buc (Larry Kangas), Wakefield, Shirley (Ron) Rhenlund Sr., Ironwood, Margie (Jim) Sisko, Wausau, Wis., Linda (Mickey) Recla, Ironwood, and Carrie (David) Nelson, Bessemer; 25 grandchildren, Michele (Jason) Serafin, Hancock, Liz Erickson, Ironwood, Rachel (Keivan) Bakhtiar, Burbank, Calif., Matthew Erickson (Lelaine Cates), Albany, Calif., Michael Erickson, Ironwood, Cassie Erickson, Los Angeles, Joshua (Jen) Erickson, Calumet, Jeremy Erickson, Los Angeles, Melvin (Amy) Pemble, Niles, Ill., Shayla (Petr) Sevcik, Cambridge, Minn., Jolynn (John) Murphy, Phoenix, Ariz., Alex Buc, Wakefield, Julia (Ryan) Stanley, Rothschild, Wis., David Mandrella, Jennifer (Stephen) Bauer, and Juliette Mandrella (Don MacAskill), all of Ironwood, Christina (Corey) Caswick, Madison, Wis., Josh Borowiec, Tomah, Wis., Andrea Borowiec (Jacob Bucknell), and Jacob Borowiec, both of Ironwood, Paul (Kristy) Recla and Justin Recla, both of Ironwood, Christie Recla, Bessemer, Tiffany Erickson, Ironwood Township, and Daniel Nelson, Bessemer; 24 great-grandchildren, Jaden, Chloe, Kristofer, Johannah, Breanna, Bailey, Jocelyn, Katelyn, Celia, Courtney, Kaylee, Gabriel, Colleen, Harmony, Kaydence, Carlin, Mason, Logan, Daija, Forrest, Haidi, Jaici, Cadence and Cole; brothers-and-sisters-in-law, Brian "Scudda" and Gail Buccanero, Ironwood Township, Loretta and Bernard Walquist, Ironwood, and Carol Linn, Iron Belt, Wis.; numerous niece and nephews; and his best friend since childhood, Leno Casagrande.      Besides his parents, Ole was preceded in death by a grandson, Michael Recla; two brothers in infancy; four sisters, Linnea Mahle, Lucille Long, Evelyn Josephson, and Margie Kerr; son-in-law, Ron Buc; father-and-mother-in-law, Alec and Anna Buccanero; and brothers-in-law, Michael Bucccanero and Richard Linn.      In accordance with Ole's wishes, cremation has taken place.      Memorial services will be held Thursday, April 8, at 11 a.m., at Salem Lutheran Church in Ironwood, with the Rev. Francis Strong officiating.      Committal will take place at the church, where full military honors will be accorded by the Ironwood American Legion Post 5 Honor Guard.      Luncheon will follow in the church fellowship hall.      Private inurnment will be in Riverside Cemetery, Ironwood, later this spring.      Relatives and friends may call at the church from 10 to 11 a.m. on Thursday.      To view Ole's obituary online, sign the guestbook and express condolences, visit mckevittpatrick funeral home.com.      Arrangements are entrusted to McKevitt-Patrick Funeral Home and Cremation Services of Ironwood.