OBITUARIES
James W. Rowe
Oct 3, 2022
On Monday, October 3, 2022, James Rowe went to be with the love of his life, Gloria. He passed away at home surrounded by love and memories.
Jim was born on February 20, 1946, to Lester and Lucille Rowe. He was the youngest of seven children. He married Gloria Luoma on November 4, 1972, Jim and Gloria...
John Stevens Pestka
Oct 3, 2022
John Stevens Pestka, 64, better known as "Johnny Rotten," passed away peacefully at his daughter's home in Ironwood, MI October 3, 2022.
John and his twin brother Joe were born to the late Felix and Ruth (Weisinger) Pestka in Ontonagon, MI, on February 11, 1958. John attended the Ontonagon Area Schools until 10th grade, when he decided...
Katherine Genevieve Pellinen
Sep 27, 2022
Katherine "Kay" Genevieve Pellinen, 85, passed away from natural causes in September 2022 at her home in Bessemer, Michigan.
She was born in April 1937 and was raised by the Watters and Belanger families in Houghton and Ironwood, Michigan. Kay married Francis "Frank" Richard Pellinen on July 1955. Frank passed away in July 2002.
Kay...
Larry A. Bahun
Sep 27, 2022
Larry A. Bahun, 71, of Ironwood, passed away on Tuesday, September 27, 2022.
Larry was born on November 9, 1950 to Tony and Venita (Swanbeck) Bahun in Ironwood. He was a graduate of Luther L. Wright High School. Larry loved his dogs dearly.
He is survived by his brother; Steve (Darlene) Bahun, sister; Kathy (Donald)...
Larry Anton Bahun
Sep 27, 2022
Larry A. Bahun, 71, formerly of Green Bay, WI., passed away suddenly on Tuesday, September 27, 2022, in the comfort of his home in Ironwood, MI.
Larry was born on November 9, 1950, to Tony and Venita (Swanbeck) Bahun. He was a graduate of Luther L. Wright High School class of 1968 in Ironwood, MI.
...
Donna K. Beckman
Sep 25, 2022
Donna K. Beckman, 69, of Ironwood Township, passed away peacefully at home after a long battle with lung cancer on Sunday, September 25, 2022.
Donna was born on January 24, 1953 in Ironwood to Elmer and Isabelle (Simonton) Waurio. She attended Roosevelt Elementary School and went on to graduate Luther L. Wright High School in 1971. She...
Virginia Mae Carpenter
Sep 23, 2022
Virginia Mae (Clement) Carpenter, age 93, passed away peacefully at the Villa Maria Health and Rehabilitation Center on September 23, 2022.
Born on August 11, 1929, she was the daughter of Joseph and Gladys Clement. Virginia grew up in Saxon, Wisconsin, and was a long-time resident of Ironwood Township, Michigan. She was preceded in passing by her...
Marie Ellen Kessler
Sep 19, 2022
Marie Ellen Kessler, 89, of Mercer, WI, loving wife and mother, passed away on Monday, September 19th, 2022. Marie was born on March 31st, 1933, in Mercer, WI, to Mike and Narrie Babic. In 1952, she married Donald Kessler.
Together they raised five children, three daughters (Donna, Sandra, and Shirley) and two sons (Ronald and Roger). She...
Steven F. "Smitty" Smith
Sep 1, 2022
Steven "Smitty" F. Smith, 76, died Thursday, Sept. 1, 2022, while surrounded by his loving family at Essentia Health – St. Mary's Medical Center, Duluth, from complications related to cancer.
He was born June 1, 1946, in Freiburg, Germany, and adopted at age two by Oliver and Jeanne (Holemo) Smith. Though the family's home base was Ironwood,...
Sandra Richter
Aug 26, 2022
Sandra J. Richter, 80, of Bessemer, MI, passed away on August 26, 2022, with her loving family at her side. Sandy was born on June 28, 1942, in Ironwood to Francis and Hilda (Hyvari) Spagnoletti. She graduated from Bessemer's Johnston High School with the class of 1960. She attended Northern Michigan University and the University of Connecticut and received a...
Gerald "Skip" Wick
Aug 25, 2022
Gerald L. "Skip" Wick, 92, of Kimball, passed away in the comfort of his home on Thursday, August 25, 2022. Skip was born February 9, 1930 in Rice Lake, Wisconsin, the son of Richard and Agnes (Fligel) Wick. He was an outstanding athlete at Rice Lake High School and graduated in 1948, he then attended UW-Eau Claire and played for...
Ronald Orlynn Eyer
Aug 24, 2022
Ronald O. Eyer (75) of Bessemer, peacefully passed on the morning of Wednesday, August 24th, 2022 at Gogebic Medical Care Facility in Wakefield, MI.
He was the firstborn to Orlynn and Dorothy Eyer in Alma, MI, and was the eldest of six siblings.Ron graduated in 1964 from Pioneer HS in Ann Arbor.  He went on to receive...
Ralph C. Reese
Aug 11, 2022
Ralph C. Reese, age 98 of Mercer, died Thursday, August 11, 2022, at Angels Grace Hospice in Oconomowoc, WI. Ralph was born in Milwaukee, WI on February 24, 1924, the son of the late Robert O. Reese and Margaret Reese (nee Rack). He graduated in 1942 from Custer High School in Milwaukee. He was immediately drafted, and he served as...
Jeffrey Carl Hautala
Aug 11, 2022
Jeffrey Carl Hautala, 71, of Hurley, WI, passed away quietly on August 11, 2022, at Aspirus Wausau Hospital. A lifelong Hurley resident and graduate of Hurley High School class of 1969. He went on to a degree in Psychology from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Before settling again in Hurley, Jeffrey toured in Europe with the Jacques Loussier Trio, a French...
Dale Massoglia
Aug 2, 2022
Dale L. Massoglia, 73, of Pine Lake, passed away on Tuesday, August 2, 2022, after a long illness. Dale was born on August 12, 1948, to Dorothy (Williams) Massoglia in Ironwood. He attended Hurley schools and graduated in 1966. Dale worked for several jobs in Madison and the Ironwood area and retired in 2000 from MFC First National Bank. Dale...
Todd Doda
Aug 1, 2022
Todd K Doda, 72, of Hurley, passed away on August 1, 2022, peacefully at home after battling medical issues. He was born May 17, 1950, in Iron Mountain, MI to William and Lois Doda. Todd joined the Army and served his country during the Vietnam war. After returning, he spent most of his adult life in the Hurley area. He...
Cecil "Jim" Branning
Jul 31, 2022
Cecil James "Jim" Branning, 79, of Ironwood, passed on to be with his Lord God on July 31, 2022 at home in the care of hospice and with his wife Mary Ann. Jim was born in Iowa Falls, IA, on March 24, 1943 to Cecil P. and Blanche (Thompson) Branning. He enlisted in the US Navy. After being honorably discharged,...
Arthur Eanar Johnson
Jul 31, 2022
Arthur Eanar Johnson, 74, of Merrill and formally of Ironwood, passed away peacefully on July 31, 2022, in his sleep. He was born the son of Eanar and Melissa (Proctor) Johnson December 27, 1947, in Ironwood, Michigan. He was a graduate of A.D. Johnson High School in Bessemer and Gogebic Community College. Art was employed for the Gogebic County Sheriff's...
Michael Robert Sjoblom
Jul 31, 2022
On Sunday, July 31, 2022, Michael Robert Sjoblom passed away surrounded by his family after a brief but heroic battle with cancer. Mike was born on September 25, 1950, in Wakefield, Michigan. Graduating from Wakefield High School in 1969 and then attended Gogebic Community College for two years, where he earned his associate degree. On August 30, 1974, he married...
Tony John Pietrocatelli
Jul 29, 2022
Tony J. Pietrocatelli, 44, of Ironwood, passed away unexpectedly after an automobile accident on July 29, 2022. Tony was born the son of John and Judy (Nelson) Pietrocatelli on February 9, 1978, in Ironwood. He was a 1996 graduate of Luther L. Wright High School in Ironwood and received his welding certificate from WITC in 1997. He worked for Bretting...
