Obituaries

Oct 2, 2018

Ora Lee (Pittsley) Westie passed away October 2, 2018 at the Aspirus Wausau Hospital in Wausau, Wisconsin after a lengthy illness.

She was born December 23, 1940 in Calderwood (Bond Falls), Michigan to Robert and Elaine Pittsley.  Ora graduated from the Trout Creek Schools in 1958.  Ora  was united in marriage June 14, 1958 with Philip Westie. ...

Sep 16, 2018

Christine Marie Cribb 52 of Rockland passed away Sunday, September 16, 2018 at her home in Rockland.

She was born November 22, 1965 in Milwaukee, WI to Ervin & Brigitte (Deluca) Fuchs.

Christine was the mother of 3 children & wife of 25 years. She will be remembered as a kind & caring person, a...

Sep 16, 2018

John F. Townsend lifelong resident of Ontonagon passed away peacefully on September 16, 2018 after a lengthy battle with cancer. He spent the last few months at Omega House Hospice house in Houghton, MI.John (also known affectionately as Jack) was born in Ontonagon, Michigan on September 6, 1923 to Goodenough and Faybelle Townsend.

John attended local schools...

Sep 11, 2018

Richard Bruce Huhtala 66, Green Bay, WI passed away Tuesday evening September 11, 2018, at a Milwaukee hospital. He was born May 26th, 1952 in Wakefield MI, the son of Arne and Jane (McCorry) Huhtala.

Rick graduated from Ewen High School in 1970. He spent most of his adult life in sales. Not only was Rick at...

Sep 11, 2018

Iris Miriam Barnbrook, 83 of Trout Creek, passed away Tuesday,  September 11, 2018 at her home.  She was born July 16, 1935 to Mose Willard Carlisle and Eini Helena (Lampinen) Carlisle.

She enlisted in the Marines on May 1, 1955 and was Honorably Discharged.  She married Fredrick Barbrook on July 23, 1955 in North Carolina.  She loved...

Sep 9, 2018

Michael W. Sullivan (Sully) went home to be with his savior on September 9, 2018.

He was born in Ontonagon to Ralph & Irene (Alanen) Sullivan on July 14, 1945. While living downstate, he met & married the love of his life for 45 years, Helen.

Loving husband of Helen (Scofield) father of Dawn, Erik...

Sep 6, 2018

Beatrice Elaine Guy 87 of Rockland, MI passed away Thursday, September 6, 2018 at Aspirus Ontonagon Hospital's Long Term Care Unit.

She was born February 28. 1931 to Holden & Anne (Eckelbecker) Guller in Kalamazoo, MI. Beatrice was the owner of the Buckhorn bar for 20 years. Beatrice is survived by her husband James Guy, 3 daughters...

Sep 4, 2018

Alfred Rogers, 81, of Watersmeet, passed away on September 4th at the Aspirus Iron River Hospital..

Alfred was born in Fenwick, MI to Gayla and Albert Rogers on June 3rd, 1937. He went to school in Fremont, MI. He married Elvira Dellorto on August 6th, 1959 in Corinth, Mississippi. He owned his own carpet business, Roger's Carpet...

Sep 1, 2018

David Lawrence (Dog) Distel, 74, passed away peacefully in his cherished Ontonagon home with his wife Lynn and her daughter Kirsten by his side, on September 01, 2018.

David was born on January 21, 1944, in Champaign-Urbana, Illinois, to Lawrence and Maryann Distel. His father was in charge of German prisoners and when the war ended they...

Aug 23, 2018

Carol Jean (Freimuth) Colgin, 90, of Ontonagon, Michigan, passed away peacefully surrounded by her children on August 23, 2018 at Aspirus Hospital Long Term Facility, where she had been a resident for a very short time.

Carol was born in Mellon, Wisconsin on January 27, 1928 to Joseph and Genevieve Freimuth.  She graduated from Ontonagon High School...

Aug 21, 2018

Debra Louise Guzek of Ontonagon, passed away on Tuesday August 21, 2018 at Aspirus Ontonagon Hospital.   She was born in Lansing, MI to Robert & GeorgA (Evans) Bartley on January 20, 1956.  She married Peter Guzek on October 1, 1976.  Debra enjoyed spending time with her family.

She is survived by her husband Peter. Daughter, Lori (KIay)...

Aug 17, 2018

Roberta Vizina      12-03-1945    to     08-17-2018

It is with sadness in our hearts we say goodbye to Bobbie but we rejoice she has joined Jesus in heaven.  She was a happy homemaker and a friend to all.  She loved her family and friends with no boundaries.  Her warm heart and giving spirit were known by everyone.  She was...

Aug 8, 2018

Mary Alyce Saaranen, age 81, of Mass City, Michigan, passed away peacefully on August 8th, 2018 at Bayside Village in L'Anse, MI.

Mary was born in Byron, MI to William E. and Coralie N. Pickard on July 24, 1937.

She grew up in a loving family of 7 kids.

Mary went to school...

Aug 5, 2018

Carol Maki

MASS CITY, Mich. — Carol Maki, a longtime resident of the Mass City area known to locals as East Branch, died Sunday, August 5 at her home. She was 68.

Born May 13, 1950, she was the youngest daughter of Waino and Florence (Korri) Niemi, who at the time lived in Sidnaw, Michigan....

Jul 27, 2018

Kurt John Talsma, 1966-2018. Kurt slipped peacefully into his Savior's arms July 27, 2018 at Aspirus Iron River Hospital, Iron River MI.  Kurt was born March 12, 1966 in Grand Rapids, Michigan, the son of John and Patricia (Spike) Talsma.  He was baptized April 17, 1966 and confirmed May 18, 1980.

Kurt attended Caledonia Public Schools and...

Jul 22, 2018

Edgar Rice Burroughs, 11/09/1942-07/22/2018'  Husband, Brother, Father, Grand-father, Great-grand-father, Friend, Viet Nam Veteran, Printer, Philosopher and Craftsmen.

Ed grew up in Tennessee, in the family newspaper, learning to read upside down and backwards with the hand-set type.  After surviving  Viet Nam, he worked at the Press Club D.C, and partnered in a dart pub in Alexandria, VA. ...

Jul 22, 2018

Elma Florence Hirvonen,  passed away in Ontonagon on Sunday, July 22nd, with her family by her side.  She was born to August and Hilda (Tuominen) Besonen in Trout Creek on June 11, 1920.

Elma moved to Detroit in 1938 to work.  While there, she met Gene Hirvonen who grew up about 7 miles from Elma in Painsville,...

Jul 21, 2018

Vivian Wagenius  passed away on July 21st of 2018 in Bruce crossing, Mi. She was born in Paradise MT in 1933 to Kenneth and Ruby Whisman. She spent much of her life in Mt and Everett Wa. area.

She is survived by her children Kenneth & Colleen Nelson, Carl & Becky Nelson ,Vicky McNamara,William  Kelly Niemi and...

Jul 20, 2018

Raymond W. Luoma 77 of Greenland passed away at Bayside Village in L'Anse on July 20, 2018

Ray was born October 3, 1940 to Henry & Ella (Laurila) Luoma.  He graduated from Mass High School in 1958.

Ray worked at the Ontonagon County Rad Commission. Then in Detroit on construction projects as a truck driver....

Jul 19, 2018

Robert (Bob) Thompson, age 89, of Ontonagon passed away July 19, 2018.  He was born in Pontiac, Michigan on November 23, 1928 to the late Orville "Red" Thompson and Rhea L. Clark

He attended Pontiac High School and graduated from Pontiac Motors Trade School.  He served as a Sergeant in the US Army, and was a veteran...