1945
John
2014
John "Mike" Michael Hongisto
June 5, 1945 — October 21, 2014
John Michael "Mike" Hongisto, age 69, of Deerton, died of an apparent medical condition on Tuesday, October 21, 2014 while exploring the woods of Alger County. John was raised in Marquette and graduated from Gravereat High School in 1963. He served in the United States Navy, worked at Cleveland Cliffs, and drove the road trucks throughout the country. He was a member of many conservation and hunting organizations including the Upper Peninsula Sportsman's Association, Michigan United Conservation Club and the Upper Peninsula Trapper's Association. John also was selected to participate in the Michigan Department of Natural Resources Wolf Round Table. In addition, Northern Michigan Universities Center for Life Long Learning gave John the opportunity to further his educational interests in many subjects.
He was a man who enjoyed the great wilderness and the Upper Peninsula. If you gave this man a fishing pole and a brook, a paper bag and mushroom patch, a trap in the forest, a basket to pick nature's bounty, and an ink pen and paper, he would be in his heaven on earth. Perhaps more than spending time hunting and trapping his passion was to learn about law, debate political issues and was a prolific letter to the editor writing on many outdoor, political and constitutional subjects. John wrote with his heart whether his writings were controversial or not and he loved a good debate. He believed in keeping people honest by the facts. John was a simple man who had a direct but gentle and passionate soul and Upper Michigan lost an amazing advocate for her beauty and nature. John greatly enjoyed dancing to local musicians, big band music and often traveled throughout the Upper Peninsula to attend dances where he met his partner, Ellen Anderson, who continues to reside in Christmas, Michigan.
John was preceded in death by his parents Nestor and Sara (Gogarn) Hongisto. He is survived by his cousins Sara Sanna Gogarn (David) Brown, Marie (Gary) McQuisten, and Harriet (Tom) Prunick and other extended relatives throughout Michigan.
Graveside services will be held at the Onota Township Cemetery in Deerton on Thursday, July 9, 2015 at 3:00 p.m. where the American Legion and Vietnam Veteran Honor Guard will conduct military honors.
He was a man who enjoyed the great wilderness and the Upper Peninsula. If you gave this man a fishing pole and a brook, a paper bag and mushroom patch, a trap in the forest, a basket to pick nature's bounty, and an ink pen and paper, he would be in his heaven on earth. Perhaps more than spending time hunting and trapping his passion was to learn about law, debate political issues and was a prolific letter to the editor writing on many outdoor, political and constitutional subjects. John wrote with his heart whether his writings were controversial or not and he loved a good debate. He believed in keeping people honest by the facts. John was a simple man who had a direct but gentle and passionate soul and Upper Michigan lost an amazing advocate for her beauty and nature. John greatly enjoyed dancing to local musicians, big band music and often traveled throughout the Upper Peninsula to attend dances where he met his partner, Ellen Anderson, who continues to reside in Christmas, Michigan.
John was preceded in death by his parents Nestor and Sara (Gogarn) Hongisto. He is survived by his cousins Sara Sanna Gogarn (David) Brown, Marie (Gary) McQuisten, and Harriet (Tom) Prunick and other extended relatives throughout Michigan.
Graveside services will be held at the Onota Township Cemetery in Deerton on Thursday, July 9, 2015 at 3:00 p.m. where the American Legion and Vietnam Veteran Honor Guard will conduct military honors.
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of John "Mike" Michael Hongisto, please visit our flower store.