Obituaries

May 4, 2020

Pembine, WI / Limestone, MI

Gary Harold Anttila, age 70, of Pembine, Wisconsin and formerly of Limestone, died Monday, May 4, 2020 at the Oscar G. Johnson VA Medical Center in Iron Mountain.  He was born in Marquette, Michigan to the late Harold and Lillian (Laakso) Anttila on March 31, 1950.  Gary grew up in Limestone and...

Apr 27, 2020

Grand Marais

Stanley E. Smith, age 65, of Grand Marais, Michigan and formerly of Detroit, Michigan, died Monday, April 27, 2020 at Medilodge of Munising following a courageous battle with cancer.  He was born in Detroit to James and Martha (Wheeler) Smith.  Stan grew up in Detroit and graduated from Osborn High School in 1972.  He attended...

Apr 25, 2020

Anita H. Hase, age 90, of Wetmore, died Saturday morning, April 25, 2020 at Medilodge in Munising.  She was born on October 13, 1929 in Gladstone, Michigan to William and Emma (Olson) Balko.  The Balko family moved to Wetmore when Anita was a young girl and she attended school in Wetmore and Munising.  She married Walter “Bud” Hase on...

Apr 19, 2020

Grand Marais

John L. Whittingham, age 74, of Grand Marais, MI and formerly of Green Bay, WI passed away Sunday, April 19, 2020 peacefully at his home under the loving care of his family and North Woods Home Hospice.  He was born on January 18, 1946 in Ontonagon, MI to the late Helen Briggs and Lee Knudsen. ...

Apr 17, 2020

Christmas

Robert “Bob” Soles, age 65, of Christmas, died unexpectedly Friday, April 17, 2020 at UP Health Systems Marquette.  He was born in Munising, Michigan on December 20, 1954 to the late Glen and Rhoda (Root) Soles.  Bob grew up in Munising and was a standout athlete in school.  He graduated from Wm. G. Mather...

Apr 15, 2020

A. Victoria “Piika” Shega, age 83, of Traunik, died early Wednesday morning, April 15, 2020 at UPHS – Marquette after a brief illness   She was born on September 29, 1936 in Chatham, Michigan to Arvid and Jennie (Norcole) Hill. She was the 11th born of 12 siblings, and her dad nicknamed her “Piika” as she was the baby girl...

Apr 14, 2020

Bruce Gregory Bray, age 75, of Shelter Bay, died unexpectedly at his home following a lengthy illness on Tuesday, April 14, 2020.  He was born on October 5, 1944 in Long Branch, New Jersey to the late Harold and Phyllis (Forbes) Bray.  The family moved to Michigan and Bruce grew up in Davison, Elk Rapids, Imlay City, and Ionia. ...

Apr 6, 2020

Charles J. (Charlie) Anderson, age 71, entered eternal rest on Monday, April 6, 2020, at U.P. Health System.  Charlie was born in Munising, Michigan on April 19, 1948 to George and Estelle Anderson and was a lifelong resident of Munising.  He was a 1966 graduate of Mather High School.  Charlie began his employment with Kimberly-Clark on October 3, 1966...

Apr 2, 2020

Munising

Walter “Elmer” Rantanen, age 87, of Munising, died Thursday, April 2, 2020 at Medilodge of Munising.  He was born on October 16, 1932 in Forest Lake, Michigan to the late Walter N. and Martha (Maki) Rantanen.  Elmer grew up in Forest Lake with an outhouse out back and a horse drawn cart that his father would...

Mar 19, 2020

D. Lorraine Vertz, age 83, of Munising, died early Thursday morning, March 19, 2020 at Medilodge of Munising where she had been surrounded by her family.  She was born on February 2, 1937 in Munising to Donald and Hilma (Lahtinen) Adair.  Lorraine graduated from Wm. G. Mather High School in 1955 and then went to beauty school in Monroe,...

Mar 10, 2020

Trenary

William E. “Bill” Davis, age 90, of Trenary, died early Tuesday morning March 10, 2020 at his home under the loving care of his family and North Woods Home Hospice.   He was born on June 9, 1929 in Trenary, Michigan to the late Vance “V.B.” and Elizabeth (Elliot) Davis.  Bill graduated from Trenary High School in...

Mar 9, 2020

Chatham

Sarah Williams, age 87, of Chatham, died Monday, March 9, 2020 at the Trillium Hospice House in Marquette, under the loving care of her family, Lake Superior Hospice and the Trillium House staff.

Sarah was born in her family home in Chatham on October 12, 1932 to her parents Axel & Sophie Parkkila.  Unfortunately,...

Mar 2, 2020

Irene A. Gruski, age 91, of De Pere, Wisconsin, and formerly of Munising, died unexpectedly on Monday, March 2, 2020, at Sage Meadow Assisted Living in De Pere, Wisconsin.  She was born on February 22, 1929, in South Milwaukee, Wisconsin, to Andrew and Lydia (Gauthier) Joncas and her family moved to Escanaba when she was an infant. ...

Mar 1, 2020

Lorena F. Zabriskie, age 96, of Limestone, died peacefully on March 1, 2020 at Eastwood Nursing Center in Negaunee.  She was born on November 3, 1923 in Detroit, Michigan to Perry and Lola (Hill) Weir.  Lorena grew up in Detroit and graduated from Cooley High School.  While working for Chrysler, she met William Zabriskie and they were married on...

Feb 22, 2020

Munising

Robert "Bob" Charboneau, age 87, of Munising, died Saturday, February 22, 2020 at the D.J. Jacobetti Home for Veterans in Marquette.  He was born on December 14, 1932 in Cheboygan, Michigan the second of seven children to Lawrence and Agnes (Hebert) Charboneau.  Bob grew up in the Cheboygan area until his family moved to Munising his...

Feb 21, 2020

Trenary

Jacqueline “Jackie” Richmond, age 89, of Trenary, died peacefully early Friday morning, February 21, 2020, at Norlite Nursing Center in Marquette following a brief illness.  She was born on February, 26, 1930 in Escanaba, Michigan to the late Henry and Cordelia “Delia” (Steinmetz) Breault.  Jackie graduated from St. Joe High School in Escanaba in 1948.  She...

Feb 16, 2020

Munising

Lori Jean Paajanen, age 57, of Munising, died unexpectedly at her home of natural causes on Sunday, February 16, 2020.  She was born on May 2, 1962 in Lincoln Park, Michigan to the late Richard and Joyce (Duford) Babcock.  Lori grew up in VanMeer, Michigan and graduated from Munising High School in 1981.  She married Dave...

Feb 13, 2020

Munising

On Thursday, February 13, 2020 at 1:30 a.m., Thomas John Dolaskie III, surrounded by family, chose to let cancer take him to a better place.  With daughter Valerie at his side, Tom passed peacefully and painlessly.  He was born on July 24, 1951 in Munising, MI to Thomas John Dolaskie II and Gladys (Gamble) Dolaskie. His...

Feb 3, 2020

Munising

Stanley William Savola, age 82, of Munising, died early Monday morning, February 3, 2020 at Medilodge in Munising.  He was born in Mathias Township, Michigan on June 3, 1937 to John and Bessie (Niemi) Savola.  Stanley grew up in Trenary and graduated from Trenary High School in 1955.  He joined the U.S. Air Force on May...

Feb 2, 2020

Munising / Wausau, WI

Frances Ann Kennedy, 76, of Wausau, WI and formerly of Munising, passed away unexpectedly, but peacefully in her home on Sunday February 2, 2020.

Fran was born April 27, 1943 in Munising, Michigan to the late Michael and Margaret (Rose) Kennedy. Fran was an accomplished seamstress for the majority of her...