John T. Lewinski, 87, of 222 So. Mansfield St., Ironwood, died unexpectedly Wednesday morning, April 22, 2009, at his home. He was born Oct. 27, 1921, in Ironwood, son of the late Walter and Lottie (Burzinski) Lewinski, attended A.L. Norrie Grade School, and graduated from Luther L. Wright High School in 1940. He then worked at the Roddis Lumber Mill in Ironwood for a short time. John enlisted in the U.S. Navy on Dec. 15, 1943, serving on ships in Guam and the Philippine Islands during World War II, and was honorably discharged as a seaman first class on Jan. 7, 1946. Following his discharge, he returned to Ironwood where he bartended at the Midway Bar, worked as a meatcutter at Reid's Store, and was employed at Schult Mobile Homes and as deliveryman for Northstar Beverage in Hurley for a short time. He was then employed as a forester's assistant with the Gogebic County Forestry Department for many years, retiring in 1984. In his retirement, he tended bar at the Brite Spot for many years. John served on the Gogebic County Board of Commissioners for several terms, where he was active on numerous committees, and received numerous accolades and citations for his many years of public service. He was past president of the AFCSME Union and served as past chairman of the Gogebic County Community Mental Health Board. John was a member of Our Lady of Peace Catholic Church in Ironwood, serving as an usher there for many years. He enjoyed fly fishing and was a lifetime member of the Ironwood Volunteer Fire Department. On Nov. 8, 1947, he was married to the former Patricia Erm at Holy Trinity Catholic Church in Ironwood by the late Rev. Carl Petranek. Pat survives. Also surviving are a son, John (Pat), Waukesha, Wis.; two daughters, Lisa (Matthew) Wegner, Cedarburg, Wis., and Michelle Nunnink, Cape Coral, Fla.; five grandchildren, Alison Lewinski, Milwaukee, Jill (Greg) Hempe, Waukesha, Nathan and Rachel Wegner, Cedarburg, and Nicole Nunnink, Cape Coral; two great-grandchildren, Haley and Chloe Hempe; a brother-in-law, John (Mary) Erm, Marquette; two sisters-in-law, Evelyn Lewinski, Ironwood, and Madelyn Sobolewski, Grantsburg, Wis.; and numerous nieces and nephews. Besides his parents, he was preceded in death by six brothers, Stanley, Leo, Frank, Ted, Charles and Edmund; and four sisters, Frances Nezworski, Lucille Dahl, Mary Wickman and Johanna Lewinski. In accordance with John's wishes, cremation has taken place. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated Saturday, April 25, at 11 a.m., at Our Lady of Peace Catholic Church in Ironwood, with the Rev. Darryl Pepin, celebrant. Rite of Committal will take place in the St. Joseph Family Room at the church, where a flag presentation ceremony will be accorded by representatives of the Ironwood American Legion Post 5 Honor Guard. A luncheon reception will follow in the parish hall. Inurnment will be in Riverside Cemetery, Ironwood. Relatives and friends may call in the St. Joseph Family Room at the church from 10 to 11 a.m. on Saturday. In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred to the Our Lady of Peace Adopt-A-Student Program, 108 So. Marquette St., Ironwood, Mich. 49938. To view John's obituary online, sign the guestbook and express condolences, visit mckevittpatrickfuneral home.com. Arrangements are entrusted to McKevitt-Patrick Funeral Home and Cremation Services of Ironwood.