OBITUARIES
Shirley A. Raffaelli
Mar 31, 2017
Shirley A. Raffaelli, 81, formerly of Nisula , died peacefully Friday morning, March 31, 2017, at Iron County Medical Care Facility in Crystal Falls, surrounded by her loving family. Â Â Â Â The former Shirley Miller was born March 25, 1936, in Augusta, Mich., daughter of the late James Lucas and Dorothy (Kyle) Miller. Â Â Â Â She was married to Elmer Haustein in 1955. They...
Rose Pakonen
Mar 30, 2017
Rose A. Pakonen, 86, of Ironwood and formerly White Pine, passed away Thursday, March 30, 2017, at Westgate Living Center in Ironwood. Rose Ann was born August 30, 1930 at home on Kennedy St. in the Jessieville location of Ironwood to Thomas Joseph and Anna (Biondich) Domencic. She graduated from Luther L. Wright High School in Ironwood in 1948. On...
Renee Babic
Mar 30, 2017
Renee A. Babic, 50 of Bessemer Township, passed away on Thursday, March 30, 2017 at her home. She was born December 3, 1966 in Woodruff, WI, the daughter of the late Vanard and Judith (Holmes) Babic. Renee attended Mercer Schools. She worked as a housekeeper for Indianhead Ski Resort in Ironwood and Dairymens Resort in Boulder Junction. Renee enjoyed gardening,...
Julia Bugaiski
Mar 29, 2017
Julia Bugaiski, 93, of Ironwood Township, died early Wednesday morning, March 29, 2017, at Westgate Nursing, Rehabilitation and Assisted Living Community in Ironwood. Â Â Â Â The former Julia Pachmayer was born Jan. 15, 1924, in Ironwood, daughter of the late Stephen and Mary (Smelko) Pachmayer, and attended Luther L. Wright High School. Â Â Â Â She was married to Harry A. Bugaiski on Nov. 16,...
Susan J. Thomas
Mar 24, 2017
Susan J. Thomas, 66, of Montreal, Wis., died peacefully Friday evening, March 24, 2017, at Froedtert Hospital in Milwaukee, surrounded by her loving family. Â Â Â Â The former Susan Grandahl was born Feb. 6, 1951, in Ironwood, Mich., daughter of the late Reuben and Jean (Hauta) Grandahl. She attended Roosevelt School in Ironwood Township and graduated from Luther L. Wright High School...
Nelmi Martinson
Mar 24, 2017
Nelmi Lorraine Martinson, 86, joined her Lord in heaven on March 24, 2017. She was born in Ironwood Township on June 29, 1930, to Richard E. and Mary Wilhemina (Spetz) Niemi, the second of five children. She grew up on a farm in Ironwood Township and graduated from Luther L. Wright High School School, Ironwood, in 1948. She worked at...
William Vaughan
Mar 20, 2017
William L. "Bill" Vaughan, 72, of Hurley, formerly of Mundelein, IL, passed away on Monday, March 20, 2017 at his home. He was born April 8, 1944 in Palatine, Illinois, the son of the late Anna (Mecklenberg) Vaughan. Bill spent the majority of his life in Illinois. In 1967 he became the proud owner and operator of Vaughan''s Broasted Chicken...
Pauline Aho
Mar 13, 2017
Pauline M. Aho, 88, of Gwinn, passed away on Monday, March 13, 2017 at UP Health System in Marquette, Mich. She was born January 8, 1929 in Bessemer, MI, the daughter of the late James and Theresa (Borgaro) Brack. Pauline attended Iron Belt schools and graduated from Iron Belt High School with the Class of 1945. She met her future...
Matthew A. Mutti" Salo
Mar 11, 2017
Matthew Allan "Mutti" Salo, 65, of Silver St., Hurley, passed away Saturday, March 11, 2017, at his home. Â Â Â Â He was born June 11, 1951, in Hammond, Ind., to Matt and Ardie (Johnson) Salo. He attended Newport Grade School and Luther L. Wright High School in Ironwood, Mich., graduating with the Class of 1969. He returned for a while to Hammond...
Sandra D. Hein
Mar 11, 2017
Sandra D. Hein, 73, of Ironwood, died peacefully Saturday evening, March 11, 2017, at Aspirus Ironwood Hospital, with her loving family by her side. Â Â Â Â The former Sandra Potinsky was born March 31, 1943, in Ironwood, daughter of the late Joseph and Elizabeth (Zack) Potinsky. She attended Roosevelt Grade School and graduated from Luther L. Wright High School in 1961. Following...
Donald J. Koivisto
Mar 6, 2017
Donald J. Koivisto, 64, of Saxon, Wis., died peacefully early Monday morning, March 6, 2017, at Essentia Health St. Mary's Medical Center in Duluth, with his loving family by his side. Â Â Â Â He was born Aug. 15, 1952, in Ironwood, Mich., son of Rose Ann (Peite) and the late Donald V. Koivisto. He attended grade school in Saxon and graduated from...
Sally Thomas
Mar 6, 2017
Sally Ann Thomas, 78, of Ironwood, passed away Monday, March 6, 2017 in Wakefield. She was born August 13, 1939, in Ironwood, daughter of the late Arthur and Martha (Krueger) Thomas. Sallyattended Ironwood Schools. She lived most of her life in Ironwood, and was very involved in church activities. She always had a good cat for company, and loved sending...
Reino Mattson
Mar 5, 2017
Reino L. Mattson, 87, of Greenbush Street, Ironwood, passed away peacefully on Sunday, March 5, 2017 at home with his family by his side. He was born November 1, 1929 in Bruce Crossing, son of the late Albert and Sophie (Niskanen) Mattson. Reino attended Paynesville schools and worked on the family farm as a young man. He was employed as...
Jack Scuffham
Mar 1, 2017
Jack W. Scuffham, 100, of Ironwood (formerly of Stambaugh), passed away on Wednesday, March 1, 2017 in Ironwood. He was born May 10, 1916 in Gaastra, MI, the son of the late Kyme and Alice (Cummings) Scuffham. Jack graduated from Stambaugh High School in 1934. On July 12, 1938 he married Inez Ruth Ogren at the First Lutheran Church in...
Reino Waurio
Feb 28, 2017
Reino "Ray" Ynve Waurio, 76 passed away in his home of 51 years on Lake Fremont, Zimmerman, MN, surrounded by his loved ones after a battle with cancer on February 28, 2017. Ray was born on August 25, 1940, the son of Ynve Samuel Waurio and Mary Heikkila, in Ironwood Township, Michigan. He attended public school in Ironwood. Ray served...
Judith A. Sobolewski
Feb 27, 2017
Judith A. Sobolewski, 82, of Ironwood Township, died peacefully early Monday morning, Feb. 27, 2017, at Gogebic Medical Care Facility in Wakefield. Â Â Â Â The former Judith Hautamaki was born June 15, 1934, in Ironwood, daughter of the late Isaac and Mary (Tampio) Hautamaki, attended Newport Grade School and graduated from Luther L. Wright High School in 1952. She was employed briefly...
Marvin C. Burgraff
Feb 26, 2017
Marvin C. Burgraff, 78, of Hurley, Wis., died peacefully Sunday evening, Feb. 26, 2017, at St. Luke's Hospital in Duluth, with his loving daughter by his side. Â Â Â Â He was born March 1, 1938, in Superior, Wis., son of the late John Sr. and Evelyn (Clark) Burgraff, and graduated from Superior Central High School in 1956. He then served four years...
Betty J. Soltis
Feb 24, 2017
Betty J. Soltis, 75, of Hartford, completed her journey on life's path with us on Friday, Feb. 24, 2017, with her loving family by her bedside. Â Â Â Â Betty (better known as Bunny to her family and friends) was an amazing talented woman, who led a full and wonderful life. The world will be a little smaller without her presence and love,...
J.F. Speck
Feb 22, 2017
J.F. Speck, 89, of Ironwood, passed away on Wednesday, February 22, 2017 at his home. He was born October 9, 1927 in Montrose, Colorado the son of the late McHenry "Mack" and Rachel (Page) Speck. J.F. attended schools in Colorado. He was a US Army Veteran serving during WWII. On June 8, 1948 he married Peggy Ann Davis. She preceded...
Carol Sell
Feb 20, 2017
Carol Lynn Sell, 56, of MacDonald Lane, Ironwood Township, formerly of Marenisco, originally from Blissfield, Michigan,died unexpectedly on Monday, February 20, 2017. She was born May 25, 1960 in Adrian, Michigan, the daughter of the late Marvin and Alice Sell. Carol attended school in Onsted, MI. As a young girl she saw her father build a golf course in the...
