Randall (Randy) Dean Ruotanen, 55, most recently of Laurel, Maryland, passed away on Dec. 27 while visiting his native Ontonagon.

Ruotanen, the son of the late Leroy Ruotanen and Jeanette Roehm Reetz, was visiting his mother in Ontonagon during the holidays when he passed. An avid outdoorsman who loved hunting, the beach and skiing, he suffered a fatal heart attack while hiking in the woods along M-64.

Though born in Ontonagon, Ruotanen moved downstate with his family and graduated from Flushing High School. He was an outstanding athlete who excelled in football and track.

After earning a degree in electronics at DeVry Institute of Technology in Atlanta, Georgia, Ruotanen launched a lifelong career as a cable technician with Comcast. He worked 15 years directly for Comcast before taking a buyout, then continued with the same firm doing contract work. He was doing contract work in Maryland when he took a break to spend the holidays with his mother.

While in Atlanta, Ruotanen married Jeannie Yarbrough in 1983 and had a daughter Leanna.

Ruotanen is survived by his mother Jeanette, daughter Leanna Ruotanen of Atlanta, brother Jeffrey Ruotanen of Ontonagon, sister Renee Donalson of Ontonagon and brother Michael Hensley of Flint.

A private service for family and friends was held at the Reetz home in Ontonagon on Jan. 4, Rosemary DeHut presiding.