OBITUARIES
Maria G. Leitza
Jan 29, 2010
Maria G. "Frances" Leitza, 99, of 219 Lake Drive, Hurley, Wis., died Friday, Jan. 29, 2010, in Ironwood.     She was born March 9, 1910, in Brooklyn, New York, daughter of the late Antonio and Dorothea (Barbera) Passanante, and attended school in Sicily. She returned to the United States in 1928 and resided in Chicago until moving to Hurley following her...
Taylor Samuel Lampart
Jan 24, 2010
Taylor Samuel Lampart, 21, of 616 E. McLeod Ave., Ironwood, Mich., died unexpectedly Sunday, Jan. 24, 2010, in Hurley.     He was born May 13, 1988, in Ironwood, son of Michael Lampart and Beth (Broemer) Turonie, and attended Newport Grade School there.     Following his graduation from Houghton High School in 2007, Taylor was employed at Super One Foods in Ironwood and...
Sharon I. Kinnunen
Jan 18, 2010
Sharon I     Sharon I. Kinnunen, 71, of 11550 N. County Rd. C, Hurley , died Monday, January 18, 2010, in Hurley,  after a brief and courageous battle with cancer.     She was born July, 31, 1938, in Ironwood, Mich., daughter of the late Charles and Helen (Palmquist) Steele. She graduated from Saxon High School  with the Class of 1956. On July...
Anton B. Cossi
Jan 18, 2010
Anton B. "Tony" Cossi, 94, of 167 E. Harding Ave., Ironwood, died Monday, Jan. 18, 2010, in his home.     He was born Feb. 23, 1915, in Bessemer, son of the late Alexander and Amelia (Deforno) Cossi, attended the Barber Grade School there, and graduated from A.D. Johnston High School in 1933. He worked in the Civilian Conservation Corps at Camp...
Phillip M. Graser
Jan 17, 2010
Phillip M. Graser Sr., 67, of Mercer,  passed away Sunday, Jan. 17, 2010, at home, with his family by his side.     Phill was a fishing guide for 31 years and maker of "Boonie Bait Lures." In 1989, he caught a world record line class Northern Pike on his own lure and was inducted into the Fishing Hall of Fame. He...
Steve G. Botes
Jan 3, 2010
Steve G. Botes, Sr., 82, of 2121W  Pine Forest Rd., Mercer, Wis., passed away Sunday, Jan. 3, 2010, at Seasons of Life Hospice House in Woodruff.     He was born July 15, 1927, in Chicago, Ill., son of the late George and Alice (Alexandropoulos) Botes. After graduating from Harrison High School in May of 1945, he promptly enlisted in the United...
Patricia J. Wood
Dec 30, 2009
Patricia J. "Pat" Â Wood, 66, of 404 Maple St., Hurley, died Wednesday, Dec. 30, 2009, at Mellen Manor Nursing Home in Mellen. Â Â Â Â Â She was born July 18, 1943, in San Jose, Calif., daughter of the late Russell and Myrtle (Washburn) Berger. She moved to Hurley in 1980, where she owned and operated the El Cantina Bar on Silver St. for...
Dominic A. Michela
Dec 29, 2009
Domenic A. Michela, 87, of Duluth, and a former  longtime Bessemer and Ironwood, Mich. resident, died Tuesday, Dec. 29, 2009 at St. Mary's Medical Center in Duluth.     Domenic was born Sept. 18, 1922 in Bessemer Township, Mich.. He was the son of the late Joseph and Mary (Dell'Acqua) Michela. He graduated from A.D. Johnston High School in Bessemer in 1941....
Gordon S. Soine
Dec 29, 2009
Gordon S. "Gordie" Soine, 77, of 5624 W. U.S. Highway 2, Town of Kimball, Hurley, Wis., died Tuesday, Dec. 29, 2009, at St. Mary's Medical Center in Duluth, with his family by his side.     He was born May 18, 1932, in Iron Belt, Wis., son of the late Sanford and Mayme (Bay) Soine, attended Roosevelt Grade School in Montreal, Wis. ...
James J. Robleski
Dec 26, 2009
James J. Robleski, 72, of 14219N Curry Rd., Saxon, Wis., died Saturday, Dec. 26, 2009, at St. Luke's Hospital in Duluth, with his family by his side.     He was born April 5, 1937, in Ashland, Wis., son of the late Dominic and Rose (Shaybel) Robleski, and attended Saxon and Gurney, Wis. schools. He worked on area farms and did private...
Robert G. Lantta
Dec 16, 2009
Robert G. Lantta, 79, of W7870 Highway 77, Iron Belt, Wis., died unexpectedly Wednesday, Dec. 16, 2009, in Ironwood.     Bob was born April 24, 1930, in Bessemer, son of the late Fred and Gertrude (Jackson) Lantta, attended the Iron Belt Grade School, and graduated from Iron Belt High School in 1949. He worked at the Iron County Creamery for several...
Dorothy L. O'Leary
Dec 15, 2009
Dorothy L. O'Leary, 84, of E5376 Jackson Rd., Ironwood Township, went to be with the Lord Tuesday, Dec. 15, 2009, in Ironwood, with family by her side. Â Â Â Â The former Dorothy L. Kurta was born Jan. 7, 1925, in Ironwood, daughter of the late Michael and Justine (Kovales) Kurta, and attended Ironwood schools. She was then employed as a waitress at...
Melbourne C. Garland
Dec 11, 2009
Melbourne C. "Mel" Garland, 80, of 1117 E. Margaret St., Ironwood, Mich., died Friday, Dec. 11, 2009, at Court Manor Health and Rehabilitation Center in Ashland, following a brief illness. Â Â Â Â He was born March 8, 1929, in Ironwood, son of the late Charles and Ruth (Rylander) Garland, attended Central Grade School, and graduated from Luther L. Wright High School in...
Charles E. Asunto
Dec 10, 2009
Charles E. Asunto, 90, of Ironwood, died Thursday, Dec. 10, 2009, in Ironwood.     He was born May 3, 1919, in Ironwood, son of the late Carl and Hilma (Taipale) Asunto, and attended the Hinkle School in Kimball, Wis. He then worked on the family farm in Kimball until moving to Ironwood Township, where he resumed farm work. He also worked...
Marvin Leonard Tassava
Dec 9, 2009
Marvin Leonard Tassava, Jr., 53, of 4853 Piilola Rd., Ironwood Township, died Wednesday, Dec. 9, 2009, at Fairview University Hospital in Minneapolis. He was waiting for the past 30 days for a liver match to undergo a transplant operation, when he suffered a heart attack at the hospital.     Marvin was born Nov. 23, 1956, in Ironwood, son of Marvin, Sr....
Margaret Lapointe
Dec 9, 2009
Margaret "Lynn" LaPointe, 87, of 303 Taconite St., Hurley, a former longtime Mercer resident, died Wednesday, Dec. 9, 2009, in her home, surrounded by her family, following a lengthy illness.     The former Margaret Doriot was born May 31, 1922, in a log house on the Manitowish River in Manitowish. She attended the one-room school in Manitowish and graduated from Mercer...
Otto A. Sorvala
Dec 3, 2009
Otto A. Sorvala, 93, of Hurley, Wis., died Thursday, Dec. 3, 2009, in Ironwood. Â Â Â Â He was born Dec. 27, 1915, in Rudyard, son of the late Matt and Ida (Kukkola) Sorvala, attended Roosevelt School in Montreal, Wis., and graduated from Hurley High School in 1934. He then was employed as a delivery truck driver in the Rudyard-Soo area. Â Â Â Â Otto was...
Beverly J. Conley
Dec 2, 2009
Beverly J. Conley, 70, of 5608N E. Echo Lake Rd., Mercer, died Wednesday, Dec. 2, 2009, at Comfort Care and Hospice Service, Aspirus Wausau Hospital, in Wausau, following her courageous battle with Alzheimer's diesase. Â Â Â Â The former Beverly Colgin was born Oct. 23, 1939, in Wakefield, Mich., daughter of the late George and June (Bailey) Colgin, and graduated from Wakefield High...
Lilah Eve Oakgrove
Dec 2, 2009
Lilah Eve Oakgrove, infant daughter of former Hurley and Ironwood, Mich., residents Francis and Molly (Jagla) Oakgrove, went to be with the angels on Wednesday, Dec. 2, 2009, at Luther Midelfort Hospital in Eau Claire. Â Surviving are her parents, Francis and Molly Oakgrove, Eau Claire; maternal grandparents, Louis and Jan Jagla, Ironwood; paternal grandmother, Trisha(Dennis) Kotcon, Florence; paternal grandfather, Francis...
Raymond D. Pawlak
Dec 1, 2009
Raymond D. Pawlak, 87, of 456 Elm St., Ironwood, Mich., died peacefully Tuesday, Dec. 1, 2009, in Hurley, surrounded by his family.     He was born July 20, 1922, in Ironwood, son of the late Frank and Frances (Raymond) Pawlak, attended Ironwood public schools, and graduated from Luther. L. Wright High School in 1940.      He entered the U.S. Army Air Corps...
