James T. Machac, 76, of 829 Sutherland Ave., Ironwood, died unexpectedly Monday, Feb. 16, 2009, in his home. He was born Nov. 21, 1932, in Ironwood, son of the late Dominic and Margaret (Dudra) Machac, attended local schools, and graduated from Luther L. Wright High School in 1950. He then enlisted in the U.S. Navy in 1951 during the Korean Conflict, serving aboard the USS Grand Canyon, and was honorably discharged in 1954. Following his discharge from the Navy, Jim worked on construction in Milwaukee for 23 years. Returning to Ironwood, he was then employed by the City of Ironwood in the Public Works Department, retiring in Dec. 1994. Jim was a member of Our Lady of Peace Catholic Church in Ironwood and Ironwood Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 1823. He was a student of military history, particularly the Navy, and enjoyed baseball. On Dec. 6, 1978, he married the former Janice Mayo Ravanelli in Lake Tahoe, Nev. She preceded him in death on Jan. 19, 2008. Surviving are five step-children, Steven (Theresa) Ravanelli, Skandia, JoAnn (Rick) Cricks, Green Bay, Wis., Terry Luoma, St. Paul, Minn., and Michele (Jeffrey) Wilber and Paula (Dan) Funke, both of Ontonagon; two sisters, Pat Belanger, West Bend, Wis., and Susan Caruso, Honesdale, Penn.; 13 step-grandchildren, Maureen (Jason) Marohnic and Melissa (Aaron) Schenk, both of Pulaski, Wis., Jessie Luoma, Minneapolis, Minn., Emilie and Natalie Ravanelli, both of Marquette, Jenna Sharkey, Wakefield, and Taylor, Kyle and Michael Wilber and Elijah, Danielle and Jamie Funke, all of Ontonagon, and Christopher Wilber, Green Bay; five step-great-grandchildren, Zachery, Matthew, Jaylin, Jordaine and Aaron Jr.; brother-in-laws, Clyde (Michele) Mayo Jr., Gilman, Ill., and Paul (Ruth) Mayo, Ontonagon; sister-in-laws, Pearl (Henry Koivunen) Hill, Ironwood Township and Livonia, and Claudette (Charles) Hall, Gardnerville, Nev.; and numerous nieces, nephews, great-nieces and-nephews, and cousins. Besides his parents and wife, Jim was preceded in death by a sister, Margie, in infancy in 1936; a nephew, Jeffrey Belanger; brother-in-laws, Louis Caruso, Vernon Hill, Francis Belanger and Charles Mussatti; and a sister-in-law, Opal Mussatti. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated Friday, Feb. 20, at 11 a.m., at Our Lady of Peace Catholic Church in Ironwood, with the Rev. Darryl J. Pepin, celebrant. Rite of Committal will take place in the St. Joseph Family Room at the church, where full military rites will be accorded by the Ironwood American Legion Post 5 Honor Guard. Luncheon will follow in the parish hall. In accordance with Jim's wishes, cremation will then take place. Spring inurnment will be in Riverside Cemetery, Ironwood. Relatives and friends may call in the St. Joseph Family Room at the church beginning at 10 a.m. on Friday. Pallbearers will be Steven Ravanelli, Rick Cricks, Jeff Wilber, Dan and Eli Funke, Jim Belanger and Zachery Marohnic. To view Jim's obituary online, sign the guestbook and express condolences, visit mckevittpatrickfuneralhome.com. Arrangements are entrusted to McKevitt-Patrick Funeral Home and Cremation Services of Ironwood