OBITUARIES
Mary Louise Friedley
May 12, 2013
Mary Louise "Lou" Friedley, 85, a former longtime Ironwood, Mich. resident, died peacefully Sunday, May 12, 2013, surrounded by her loving family, in her apartment at the Villa Vista in Hurley, following a brief illness.     The former Mary Louise Cunningham was born Aug. 10, 1927, in Russell, Iowa, daughter of the late Cecil and Louise (Good) Cunningham. She attended Russell...
Lynn A. Starkey
May 8, 2013
Lynn A. "Buck" Starkey, Sr., 79, a former Ironwood, Mich. resident, died Wednesday, May 8, 2013, at Wausau Manor in Wausau.     He was born Dec. 15, 1933, in Charles City, Iowa, son of the late Harold and Iva (Short) Starkey, and attended Charles City schools. He farmed, worked in construction and in bridge building, and was employed at a trucking...
William Graham Cloon
May 3, 2013
The Honorable William Graham Cloon Jr., 82, of Ironwood, known as Bill to everyone, retired Ironwood attorney and former 98th District Court and 32nd Circuit Court judge of Gogebic and Ontonagon c ounties, passed away Friday, May 3, 2013, at Marquette General Hospital in Marquette.     He was born April 11, 1931, in Ironwood, son of the late Mary (King) and...
Catherine Delma Zerndt
May 1, 2013
Catherine Delma Zerndt, 82, of Mercer, Wis., died Wednesday, May 1, 2013, at the home of her daughte r , surrounded by her loved ones.     The former Catherine Delma O'Brien was born Jan. 25, 1931, in Detroit, Mich., daughter of the late William and Catherine (McGrath) O'Brien. She graduated from Holy Redeemer High School in Detroit, and attended Mary Grove...
Sylvester T. Russ
Apr 30, 2013
Sylvester T. "Stubby" Russ, 75, of Ironwood, died peacefully Tuesday, April 30, 2013, surrounded by his loving family, at Westgate Nursing, Rehabilitation and Assisted Living Community in Ironwood, following a courageous battle with lung cancer. Â Â Â Â He was born Dec. 31, 1937, in Wakefield, son of the late John and Victoria (Dalbec) Russ, and graduated from Wakefield High School in 1956....
Edward Gerald Krenzalek
Apr 25, 2013
Edward Gerald Krenzalek, 67, of Ironwood, Mich., passed away Thursday, April 25, 2013, peacefully, with his children by his side, at St. Mary's Hospital in Duluth. mckevittpatrickfuneralhome.com
Roberta Ranta
Apr 20, 2013
Roberta "Bea" Ranta, 64, of Airport Road, Ironwood Township, died unexpectedly Saturday, April 20, 2013, in Wausau, Wis., with her family by her side. Â Â Â Â She was born March 6, 1949, in Ironwood, daughter of Sam and June (Brown) Misuraco. Roberta attended the Norrie Grade School and graduated from the Luther L. Wright High School with the class of 1967. Â Â Â Â She...
Greg Kazian
Apr 15, 2013
Greg Kazian, 64, a former longtime Kenosha, Wis. resident, died peacefully Monday, April 15, 2013, in his home in Ironwood, surrounded by his loving family.     He was born April 11, 1949, in Chicago, son of the late George and Charlotte (Esperian) Kazian.     He was married to the former Merrie Lynn Humann of Ironwood on July 4, 1992, in Las Vegas....
Paul J. Soltis
Apr 15, 2013
Paul J. Soltis, 89, of Ironwood, died peacefully Monday, April 15, 2013, with his family by his side, at Westgate Nursing, Rehabilitation and Assisted Living Community in Ironwood, following a brief illness. Â Â Â Â He was born Jan. 27, 1924, in Ironwood, son of the late Sebastian and Anna (Sisko) Soltis, attended Oliver and Central Grade School, and graduated from Luther L....
Leonard F. Berube
Apr 12, 2013
Leonard F. "Len" Berube, 82, of Saxon, died peacefully Friday, April 12, 2013, at home, with his family by his side, following a brief battle with melanoma.     He was born Jan. 6, 1931, in Ironwood, Mich., son of the late Thomas and Lillian (Barta) Berube, attended Roosevelt School in Ironwood Township, and graduated from Saxon High School in 1951. He ...
Renee Toni Anderson
Apr 7, 2013
Renee Toni Anderson, 56, of Ironwood, Mich., died Sunday, April 7, 2013, surrounded by her loving family, at Essentia Health-St. Mary's Medical Center in Duluth, following a courageous battle with cancer.     The former Renee Nygard was born Sept. 24, 1956, in Ironwood, daughter of Marilyn (Eplett) and the late Ronald Nygard Sr., attended Newport Grade School, and graduated from Luther...
Ruth Erspamer Spees
Apr 5, 2013
Ruth Erspamer Spees, 48, of Hurley, died peacefully Friday, April 5, 2013, surrounded by her loving family, at Mellen Manor Nursing Home in Mellen, following a 10-year battle with cancer. Â Â Â Â She was born Aug. 28, 1964, in Antigo, daughter of Ted and the late Gretchen (Pfeiffer) Erspamer, attended St. Mary's Grade School in Hurley, and graduated from J.E. Murphy High...
Dennis K. Derosso
Apr 1, 2013
Dennis K. "Dbl D" DeRosso, 78, of Oma, died peacefully Monday, April 1, 2013, at Avanti Health and Rehabilitation Center in Minocqua, with his family by his side.     He was born Oct. 31, 1934, in Hurley, son of the late Geno and Mae (Brown) DeRosso, attended St. Mary's Grade School, and graduated from J.E. Murphy High School in 1952. He...
Joseph J. Mckevitt
Mar 28, 2013
Joseph J. McKevitt, 97, of Ironwood, Mich., former longtime funeral director and co-owner and operator of McKevitt-Kershner-Patrick Furniture Co. and McKevitt-Patrick Funeral Home, Inc.,  in Ironwood and Engstrom Funeral Home in Hurley, Wis., died peacefully Thursday, March 28, 2013, at the Episcopal Church Home in St. Paul, where he resided for the past two years.     Joe was born June 9,...
Mary Mattson Richter
Mar 24, 2013
Mary Mattson Richter, 103, of Ironwood, Mich., died peacefully Sunday, March 24, 2013, in Hurley, three days before her 104th birthday. Â Â Â Â The former Mary Laitila was born March 27, 1909, in National Mine, Mich., daughter of the late Stefanus and Susanna (Simola) Laitila, and came to Ironwood in her teens from Paynesville, Mich. Â Â Â Â She married Earl Mattson on Aug. 17,...
Hilda Helen Polso
Mar 21, 2013
Hilda Helen Polso,  97, of Kimball, died peacefully Thursday, March 21, 2013, in Hurley, surrounded by her loving family.     The former Hilda Lake was born Sept. 15, 1915, in Ironwood, Mich., daughter of the late Edward and Susanna (Rajamaki) Lake, attended Section 33 Grade School in Ironwood Township, and received her high school diploma later. She attended college classes majoring...
Geraldine M. Erspamer
Mar 21, 2013
Geraldine M. "Jeri" Erspamer, 87, of Hurley, Wis., died peacefully Thursday, March 21, 2013, at Westgate Nursing, Rehabilitation and Assisted Living Community in Ironwood, with her loving husband by her side.     The former Geraldine Bertolini was born Oct. 28, 1925, in Montreal, Wis., daughter of the late Serafino and Rose (Oddino) Bertolini Summers, attended Roosevelt School in Montreal, and graduated...
Helen Sendra
Mar 19, 2013
Helen Sendra, 90, of Mercer, Wis., died Tuesday, March 19, 2013, at Aspirus Grand View Hospital in Ironwood.     She was born Sept. 4, 1922, in Lipin, Poland, daughter of the late Michael and Sophia (Skouba) Pietkiewicz, and came to Chicago in 1949, where she worked at Pullman Coach Co. for ten years. She then was employed at Zenith Corporation in...
Bernard J. Kovales
Mar 16, 2013
Bernard J. "Doc" Kovales, 86, of Hurley, died Saturday, March 16, 2013, in Hurley. Â Â Â Â He was born Oct. 20, 1926, in Ironwood, Mich., son of the late Edward and Anna (Vida) Kovales, attended A.L. Norrie and St. Ambrose Grade School, and graduated from St. Ambrose High School in 1944. He then worked in area mines before entering the U.S. Army...
Elsie E. Stella
Mar 15, 2013
Elsie E. Stella, 84, of Ironwood Township, died peacefully Friday, March 15, 2013, in Ironwood, surrounded by her loving family.     The former Elsie Lassila was born July 8, 1928, in Ironwood Township, daughter of the late George and Senia (Nasi) Lassila, and attended Roosevelt Grade School and Luther L. Wright High School.     She married Antonio D. "Tony" Stella on Sept....
