Obituaries

Feb 8, 2025

Toivola

Geraldine Jane "Gerry" Luukkonen (nee Hayrynen), 78, passed away on February 8, 2025, in Marquette, MI

Born on April 27, 1946, in Hancock, Gerry grew up in the Upper Peninsula and graduated from the Jeffers High School in Painesdale in 1964. She built a life filled with love for her family, animals, and the...

Feb 7, 2025

South Range

Bonnie C. Manderfield, 74, a resident of South Range, unexpectedly passed away Friday, February 7, 2025, at her home.

She was born on August 19, 1950, in Hancock, a daughter of the late Ronald and Joyce (Sjostrand) Paulson. Bonnie was raised in South Range and was a graduate of Jeffers High School. She...

Feb 7, 2025

Coles Creek

Karl J. Massie, 61, a resident of Coles Creek, passed away Friday, February 7, 2025, at UP Health Systems – Portage Hospital following a lengthy illness.

He was born on February 20, 1963, in Hancock, a son of the late James and Rita (O'Brien) Massie. Karl was raised in Houghton and was a...

Feb 7, 2025

Lee Thomas Markham, age 26, was pronounced dead on February 7, 2025, after an apparent fall from a remote hiking trail in Texas. He was born on July 30, 1998, in Hancock, the fourth son of Robert W. Markham Jr. and Mary T Markham. He graduated from Chassell Township Schools in 2016 with honors. He took after his dad...

Jan 31, 2025

Roy D. Koski, 88, a resident of Lena, WI, and former Atlantic Mine, MI, resident passed away Friday, January 31, 2025, at the Rennes East Health & Rehab Center in Peshtigo, WI, where he had been a resident patient for the past 4 years.

He was born on August 22, 1936, in Atlantic Mine, MI, a son...

Jan 28, 2025

Hancock

Robert "Bob" Gerald Bastion, 79, a resident of Hancock, passed away on Tuesday,

January 28, 2025 while vacationing in Florida with some of his family.

He was born on April 12, 1945, in Laurium Michigan, the son of the late William and

Claudia (Gunnari) Bastion. Bob was raised in Kearsarge,...

Jan 24, 2025

Houghton

Barbara Alayne (Bluege) Lide, an emerita professor (Humanities) at Michigan Tech, died at the

Omega House on Friday, January 24, 2025. She was 90 years old.

Barbara was born to Edna and Hugo W. Bluege in Chicago. She and her husband Francis (Frank)

married on June 17, 1967, in Wake...

Jan 22, 2025

Houghton

Paul D. Peterson, 78, a resident of Quincy Cove in Houghton, passed away on Wednesday, January 22, 2025, at his home following a lengthy illness.

The Memorial Chapel Funeral & Cremation Service - Hancock Chapel is assisting the family with the arrangements.

Jan 22, 2025

Houghton

Joan M. (Niemi) Leinonen, 88, a resident of the Bluffs Senior Living Community in Houghton, and a former resident of Chassell and South Range, passed away Wednesday morning January 22, 2025, at her home at The Bluffs.

Born on December 11, 1936, the daughter of the late William and Olga (Karna) Niemi. Joan was...

Jan 22, 2025

Baltic

Paul M. "Sonny" Mickalich, 88, a resident of Baltic passed away Wednesday, January 22, 2025, at the Omega House in Houghton Following a lengthy illness.

He was born on January 24, 1936, in TriMountain, MI, a son of the late Paul and Florence (Skoviak) Mickalich. Paul was raised in South Range and attended the...

Jan 21, 2025

Hancock

Barbara Ellen Kenny, 82, passed away peacefully on Tuesday, January 21, 2025, at Canal View – Houghton County following a lengthy illness.

Barb was born on February 6, 1942, in Trimountain, to the late Werner and Mildred (Jokela) Kenny. She attended local schools before moving to Detroit where she worked as a waitress.

Jan 16, 2025

Elo

John D. Kolehmainen, 76, a longtime resident of Elo, passed away on Thursday, January 16, 2025, at the Omega House in Houghton.

Born on March 10, 1948, in Hancock, MI, John was the son of the late John William and Lilly Anna Maria (Ohman) Kolehmainen. He grew up in Klingville and graduated from Chassell...

Jan 14, 2025

Klingville

Nancy Paananen, 77, a resident of Klingville passed away Tuesday, January 14, 2025, at her home following an apparent heart attack.

She was born on December 30, 1947, in Hancock, MI, a daughter of the late Edwin and Gladys (Piggott) Kautto.  Nancy was raised in Klingville and was a graduate of the Chassell High...

Jan 12, 2025

Truro, MA

Charles William Wiideman, 83, died peacefully on January 12, 2025, at his home in Truro, Massachusetts.

Charles was born in Toivola, Michigan to Esther Wiideman, née Wisti, and Kaarlo Wiideman. Traveling with his

itinerant family, he was schooled in Texas, California, Wisconsin and Michigan.

Charles was the husband of...

Jan 10, 2025

Elo

Loren David Korpi, of Elo, was called home by our Lord on Friday, January 10, 2025, at Froedtert Hospital in Milwaukee, WI.

Loren was born on June 22, 1972, in Ashby, Massachusetts to his parents, Larry and Nancy (Somero) Korpi. When he was three years old, the family relocated to the Upper Peninsula of...

Jan 10, 2025

Quincy Location

William L. Kotila, 93, a resident of Quincy Location passed away Friday January 10, 2025, at his home following an apparent heart attack.

He was born July 17, 1931, in Pewabic Location, a son of the late Andrew and Florence (Wellems) Kotila.

On December 6, 1952, he was united in marriage...

Jan 10, 2025

Houghton

Howard "Bob" Stancer Jr., 91, a resident of Houghton passed away Friday January 10, 2025, at the Omega House in Houghton following a short illness.

The Memorial Chapel Funeral & Cremation Service - Hancock Chapel is assisting the family with the arrangements.

Jan 9, 2025

Houghton

Laurie (Slusarzyk) Hillmer, 64, – passed away peacefully on January 9 th , 2025 at the Omega House after a short but aggressive battle with heart disease.

Per Laurie's wishes a private service will take place at a later date.

She is survived by her father, 3 children, 4 siblings and 2...

Jan 8, 2025

Hurontown

Dorthea M. Fricke, 96, a resident of Cleveland, OH, and a former resident of Hurontown and the Bluff's Senior Living Community in Houghton, passed away Wednesday January 8, 2025, at The Winfield at Richmond Heights Assisted Living under the care of Hospice of Western Reserve, in Richmond Heights, OH.

She was born on February...

Jan 7, 2025

Painesdale

Elwood A. Narhi, 87, a resident of Painesdale, passed away Tuesday, January 7, 2025, at Bayside Village in L'Anse where he was a resident patient.

He was born on August 15, 1937, in Suo District, MI, a son of the late Sulo and Sophie (Belttari) Narhi.  As a child his family moved to Painesdale...