Obituaries

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...

Jul 16, 2018

Reino Emil Alanen, 90, passed away Monday, July 16th at the DJ Jacobetti Home for Veterans in Marquette, MI.  He was born to Emil & Rosa (Tienhaara) Alanen on May 3, 1928 on the farm near Bruce Crossing.

Reino's spent his early years on the farm.  Later he worked at the Brown Lee Sawmill in Toivola &...

Jun 27, 2018

Elizabeth Mae Marks DeFrancisco 97 of Ontonagon passed away Wednesday, June 27, 2018 at Aspirus Ontonagon Hospital's Long Term Care Unit.

She was born November 11, 1920 to the late Edward & Roslena White in Big Bay, MI. Elizabeth married Elmer Marks, Sr. in 1937. He preceded her in death in 1966. She married Joseph DeFrancisco in...

Jun 26, 2018

Dorothy J. Dankwardt passed away on June 26, 2018 at Aspirus Ontonagon Hospital.  She was born in Ontonagon Michigan to Edward and Helen (Joos) Weza.  She graduated from Ontonagon High School.

After graduation she worked in Duluth Minnesota for a few years. She then moved to Colorado, an area that she loved.  When Dorothy returned to the...

Jun 26, 2018

Gerald Ernest Platzke died peacefully at Methodist Hospital in St. Louis Park, MN on June 26th, 2018 at the age of 62.

Gerald is survived by his wife, Benita; children, Ryan (Michelle), Jesse (Stephanie), Evan (Andrea); Siblings, Joel (Dawn) Platzke, Barb Perttula, Dennis Morrison, Mark (Anne) Morrison, Stacy Morrison, Susan Platzke; Grandchildren, Andi, Mason, Isak Platzke, Gerry,...

Jun 11, 2018

Bonnie L. Hughes 73 passed away Monday, June 11, 2018 at her home in Ontonagon.

She was born on January 24, 1945 in Amasa, M to the late Everett & Lorraine (Cornelia) Kaskisto. Through her life, Bonnie enjoyed trips to the casino & spending time with family at her lake front home in Ontonagon. She was a...

Jun 8, 2018

Einard W. Mannikko 83 passed away June 8th 2018 at Aspirus Ontonagon Hospital. Einard was born July 26th 1934 to Urho and Jenny (Wiitala) Mannikko in Ontonagon. Einard was in the Army and retired from Stone Container after 39 years.

In 1960 he married Marcella Wells and they resided in Wood Spur. Einard is survived by his...