Steve Michael Armata, 89, of 246 E. Oak St., Ironwood, was born to eternal life Sunday, April 8, 2007, in Ironwood, due to complications of pneumonia. He was born to life Aug. 15, 1917 in Ironwood, son of the late John and Julia (Plaza) Armata, and attended Ironwood schools. He entered the U.S. Army in 1942 and proudly served his country during World War II in the European Theater of Operations in the 80th Infantry Divison, receiving, among numerous medals and citations, a Purple Heart and two Oak Leaf Clusters for wounds received in action in France and Germany. Following his honorable discharge as a sergeant in 1945, Steve returned to Ironwood and worked in the Peterson Mine and at White Pine Copper Co. for many years, retiring in 1979. He was a member of St. Mary's Catholic Church in Hurley and former member of St. Michael's Catholic Church in Ironwood, and was a lifetime member of the Disabled American Veterans. He was an avid outdoorsman and self-taught mechanic who loved helping others, and especially enjoyed spending time with his grandchildren. On April 18, 1942, he married the former Lucille M. Nagro of Gile at St. Mary's Church in Hurley. Steve and Lucille would have celebrated their 65th wedding anniversary this year. Lucille survives. Also surviving are two children, Diane (William) Harrod, Colgate, Wis., and Jody Michael Armata, Shorewood, Wis.; grandchildren, Jamie (Alisa) Morrison-Armata, Wauwatosa, Wis., Bradley Harrod, Milwaukee, Kim (Matt) Wendt, Racine, Wis., and Andrea Smith, Green Bay, Wis.; sisters-and-brothers-in-law, Rose Armata, Ironwood, Margaret Noskoviak, Minneapolis, Katherine Gulan, Hurley, Priscilla and Peter Jardine, Loves Park, Ill., Jackie and Donald Robinson, Madison, Wis., and Nancy Reinsvold, Milwaukee; his extended family, Greta Armata, Milwaukee, and Rod (Jeannie) Smith, Ironwood; and numerous nieces, nephews, grand nieces and nephews, other relatives, and many dear friends. Besides his parents, Steve was preceded in death by brothers Frank, Walter, Joseph, and Leo, and a sister, Katherine Wierzbicki. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated Friday, April 13, at 11 a.m., at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Hurley, with the Rev. James Roetzer, presider. Rite of Committal will be held at the church, where a flag presentation ceremony will be accorded by representatives of the Ironwood American Legion Post 5 Honor Guard. Luncheon will follow at Manny's in Ironwood. Spring burial will be in St. Mary's Cemetery, Hurley. Visitation will be Thursday, from 5 to 8 p.m., at the McKevitt-Patrick Funeral Home, 305 N. Lowell St., in Ironwood, where a parish rosary will be recited at 7 p.m., and continue from 10 to 11 a.m at the church on Friday. Pallbearers will be Brad Harrod, Jamie Armata, Matt Wendt, Rod Smith, Duane Gulan, and T. Robinson. Memorials are preferred to St. Mary's Church-Organ Restoration Fund, 404 Iron St., Hurley, Wis. 54534. To view Steve's obituary online, sign the guestbook, and express condolences, visit mckevittpatrickfuneralhome.com. Arrangements are with McKevitt-Patrick Funeral Home Inc. of Ironwood.