Obituaries

Feb 23, 2018

Ruth Marie Schumacher, age 91, of Munising, died at her home following an unexpected illness on Friday, February 23, 2018.  She was born in Munising on February 12, 1927 to Willis and Sarah (Savoie) Masters and was a lifelong Munising resident.  After graduating from high school, Ruth went to work at the Kimberly Clark Munising Paper Mill.  After an...

Feb 17, 2018

Eulene Catherine Skszek, age 95, of Sumpter Township, died peacefully at Superior Woods nursing home early Saturday morning, February 17, 2018. Eulene is the dear mother of Penelope (the late Benjamin, d. 2003) Loeb of Muskegon, and dear friends Doug Bledsoe of Belleville and Dee Blevins of Indiana. Sadly, she is preceded in death by her husband of Joseph...

Feb 15, 2018

Munising

Stella Sophia Cabanaw, age 89, of Munising, died Thursday, February 15, 2018 at the Medilodge of Munising.  She was born in Munising on October 3, 1928 to the late Jacob and Anna (Kaplan) Woodaz. Stella grew up working on her family farm.  She married William Lawrence Cabanaw on August 28, 1948 and together they raised their...

Feb 12, 2018

Limestone

Jerome L. Johnson, age 78, of Limestone, died at 3:00 a.m. on Monday, February 12, 2018 at U.P. Health System Marquette following a lengthy illness.  Jerome was born to Louis and Ailie (Hakala) Johnson on August 18, 1939 at the family’s home in Limestone which was the home where he currently resided.  Jerome grew...

Feb 12, 2018

Munising

Bart Nikkari, age 47, of Munising, died Monday, February 12, 2018 at his home under the loving care of his family and North Woods Home Hospice.  He was born in Wakefield, Michigan in May of 1970 to Matt and Mary Lou (Benzing) Nikkari.  Bart graduated from Munising High School in 1988. While in school, he was...

Feb 7, 2018

Wetmore

Betty Lou (Strand) Brown of Wetmore, passed away at her home on Wednesday, February 7, 2018 under the loving care of her family and a very special nurse from North Woods Home Care, Shanon.   Betty was born on October 22, 1929 to Carl and Grace (Masters) Strand, Sr.  She lived in Munising where she met and...

Feb 3, 2018

Shingleton

Lyle F. Steede, age 76, of Shingleton and formerly of Escanaba, died peacefully at his home on Saturday, February 3, 2018 under the care of North Woods Home Hospice, following a lengthy illness.  He was born on June 11, 1941 in Escanaba, Michigan to the late Franklin and Rose (Hubert) Steede.  Lyle graduated from Escanaba High...

Feb 2, 2018

Onsted, MI / Munising, MI

Janice Arda (nee Whippen) Meyer, age 52, of Onsted, Michigan and formerly of Munising, died unexpectedly, following a brief illness on Friday, February 2, 2018 at Upper Peninsula Health Systems – Marquette.  She was born on June 4, 1965 in Jackson, Michigan, daughter to William and Janet (Berg) Whippen.  Janice married Stuart...

Jan 31, 2018

Munising

George “Jug” Johns, age 83, of Munising, died following a brief illness on Wednesday morning, January 31, 2018 at UPHS Marquette.  He was born in Munising on October 26, 1934 to George and Edna (Parr) Johns.  Jug was raised in Munising and joined the U.S. Air Force in 1951.  He was stationed at Spangdahlem AFB in...

Jan 29, 2018

Limestone

Lillian Martha Anttila, age 93, of Limestone, died late Monday morning, January 29, 2018 at the Tendercare Health Center in Munising.  She was born on May 8, 1924 in Gwinn, Michigan, one of eight children to Finnish immigrants Isaac and Kustava (Hakkola) Laakso.  Lillian grew up on the family farm in Eben.  She helped on the...

Jan 24, 2018

AuTrain

Keith J. Steinhoff, age 73, of AuTrain, died Wednesday, January 24, 2018 at Munising Memorial Hospital.  He was born on December 24, 1944 to the late Arnold “Skeeter” and Alice (Berube) Steinhoff, and was a lifelong Alger County resident.  Keith graduated from William G. Mather High School in Munising in 1963.  He married Ellen Bennett on...

Jan 19, 2018

Munising / Mansfield, OH

Christine Wappner, age 93, of Munising, Michigan and formerly of Mansfield, Ohio, died Friday, January 19, 2018 at Munising Memorial Hospital.  She was born in Crvenka, Yugoslavia, on October 22, 1924, to the late Jacob and Luisa (Schmitt) Paul.  During WWII, Christine’s family was moved from place to place, not always knowing where...

Jan 18, 2018

Loretta Ann Louis, age 90, of Munising, died following a brief illness on Thursday morning, January 18, 2018 at Munising Memorial Hospital.  Her story began on February 19, 1927 when a Sicilian family named Carmello and Concetta (Conti) Castrovinci who were living in Jersey City, New Jersey welcomed the birth of Loretta Ann Castrovinci. Loretta’s long and fruitful life...

Jan 18, 2018

Munising

Jean I. Morrison, age 83, of Munising, died at her home under the loving care of her family and North Woods Hospice on Thursday, January 18, 2018.  She was born on September 29, 1934 in Munising to the late Vernon and Mary Louise (Longfield) Anderson.  Jean grew up in Brown’s Addition and attended Wm. G. Mather...

Jan 15, 2018

Munising

Amy Lynn Benson, age 32, of Muskegon and formerly of Munising, died unexpectedly at her home on January 15, 2018.  She was born and raised in Munising and graduated from Negaunee High School in 2004.   Amy was a talented bartender and worked at different bars throughout her career.  She loved helping people and was a kind...

Jan 15, 2018

O CAPTAIN! My Captain! Our fearful trip is done;…..“Captain” Oscar Oliver Froberg, age 84, passed away Monday, January 15, 2018 at the Jacobetti Home for Veterans in Marquette, MI after succumbing to advance stages of dementia.  He was born in Munising, MI on November 6, 1933 to Gertrude and Oliver Froberg.  Oscar graduated from Munising High School in 1951. ...

Jan 13, 2018

Munising

Gregory Allen “Havs” Haverkate, age 54, of Munising, died on Saturday evening, January 13, 2018, at his home following a lengthy battle with cancer.  Greg was born on August 2, 1963, in Munising, Michigan, to Richard and Shirley (Paquette) Haverkate.  He grew up in Munising, raised by his parents Shirley and Paul Petosky.  As a youngster,...

Jan 13, 2018

Chatham

Albert A. Ikkala, age 97, of Chatham, died early Saturday morning, January 13, 2018 at the Rennes East Health Center in Peshtigo, Wisconsin.  He was born in Marquette, Michigan to Henry and Helmi (Jokinen) Ikkala.  Growing up, Albert helped on the family farm.  Al went to Eben High School where his nickname was Pat.  He ran...

Jan 10, 2018

Rabecca “Becky” Phillipson, age 46, of AuTrain, died unexpectedly on Wednesday afternoon, January 10, 2018 in Marquette, Michigan.  She was born on September 21, 1971 in Columbus, Wisconsin to Wilbur and Susan (Buss) Stark.  Becky grew up in Waterloo and attended Waterloo High School where she participated in forensics and the color guard.   Becky graduated from WHS in 1989.  ...

Jan 10, 2018

Phyllis Marie Brock, age 68, of Munising, died following a brief and unexpected illness on Wednesday, January 10, 2018 at UPHS Marquette.   She was born in Manistique, Michigan to the late Philip “Bear” and Loretta (Deloria) Maynard.  Phyllis grew up in Munising and graduated from Wm. G. Mather High School in 1967.  She went to work at Kimberly Clark...