Obituaries
Richard Hietala
May 18, 2026
Chassell
Richard Hietala, 88, a resident of Chassell, passed away Monday, May 18, 2026, at the Omega House in Houghton.
He was born on May 10, 1938, in Hancock, a son of the late Edward William and Impi Marie (Lehto) Hietala. Richard was raised in Chassell and was a graduate of the Chassell High School with the class of 1956.
Upon graduation, Mr....
Edith Ann Snortland
May 15, 2026
Hancock
Edith A. Snortland, 86, passed away May 15, 2026, at White Oasis in Hancock, MI.
She was born on August 9, 1939, in Antioch, CA, the daughter of Harold and Alberta Mellor. She was raised in Northern California.
In 1960, she was united in marriage to Robert (Bob) Snortland. In 1963, they moved from Grass Valley, CA to Grand Forks, ND. Edith’s...
Dale Robert Kamppinen
May 11, 2026
Superior Location
Dale R. Kamppinen, 58, of Superior Road in Houghton, passed away suddenly and unexpectedly at his home on Monday, May 11, 2026.
Dale was born on March 14, 1968, in L’Anse, MI, the son of Robert Kamppinen and the late Susan Koskela. He grew up in South Range and graduated from Jeffers High School with the class of 1986.
After high...
John C. Ritola
May 9, 2026
Atlantic Mine
John C. Ritola, 89, a resident of Atlantic Mine, passed away Saturday, May 9, 2026, at Our Lady of Mercy Convalescent Home in Hubbell, where he had been a resident patient.
He was born on February 2, 1937, in Detroit, MI, a son of the late William and Florence (Kostamo) Ritola. John was raised in various parts of the Midwest...
William E. Forsman
May 9, 2026
Hancock, MIWilliam Edward (Bill) Forsman, age 90, a resident of Hancock, passed away Saturday, May 9, 2026, at UP Health Systems - Portage in Hancock, where he had been a patient for the past four days.
Bill was born on August 24, 1935, on the family farm in Franklin Township to Hugo and Helmi (Koski) Forsman. He was a graduate of...
Elsie Irene Lauluma
May 4, 2026
Chassell
Elsie Irene (Tossava) Lauluma, 96, a longtime resident of Chassell, beloved mother, grandmother and great-grandmother, passed away at Portage Pointe in Hancock on Monday, May 4, 2026.
Elsie was born on March 22, 1930, a daughter of the late Edward and Martha Tossava, residing in Highway Location. She was a 1949 graduate of Hancock Central High School.
In her early twenties, Elsie...
Edward M. Burger
May 4, 2026
Edward Burger, a resident of Gay, Michigan, died on Monday, May 4, 2026, following a short illness.
He is survived by his wife, Janet Burger; his brother, Anthony Burger (Donna) of Solon Springs, Wisconsin; and his children: Andrea Gresser (Jack) of Eagan, Minnesota; Christopher Burger (Staci) of Hubbard Lake, Michigan; and Timothy Burger of Menifee, California.
Edward was a proud grandfather to...
Evelyn Vera Goke
May 3, 2026
Houghton
Evelyn V. Goke, 79, a resident of Houghton, died on Sunday, May 3, 2026, at the Omega House in Houghton following two years of significant health problems, including cancer and a stroke.
She was born on May 16, 1946, in Lancaster, WI, the daughter of the late Clark and Vera (Ramshaw) Williams. Evelyn was raised in Lancaster and was a graduate...
Mike Gilpin
Apr 24, 2026
Houghton
On Friday, April 24, Michael “Mike” Gilpin, 85. passed away at UP Health System-Marquette following a short illness. His wife was by his side.
A resident of Houghton since 1972, Mike worked as a math professor at Michigan Technological University from that year until his retirement in 2006.
Mike and his beloved wife Marlene “Tommy” (Thompson) met at Parsons College in Iowa...
Betty J Witt
Apr 24, 2026
Hancock
Betty J. Witt, a resident of Hancock, passed away Friday, April 24, 2026, at the Pewabic House of Portage Pointe in Hancock, where she had been a resident patient for the past two months.
Betty was born on February 8, 1933, in Dassell, MN to the late Albert and Jennie (Tormanen) Bollman. She was a graduate of Dassell High School with...
Alan Charles Heikkinen
Apr 23, 2026
Calumet
Alan Charles Heikkinen, a Dollar Bay graduate better known as Charlie, died unexpectedly of a heart attack on Thursday, April 23, 2026. He was 80 years old, born on November 15, 1945, at St. Joseph’s Hospital in Hancock, Michigan, to Charles and Martha (Halkola) Heikkinen. It was the opening day of deer hunting season, so Dr. A.J. Janis had to...
Irene J. Byykkonen
Apr 21, 2026
Chassell
Irene J. Byykkonen passed away on April 21, 2026, at Canal View.
She was born November 8, 1940, to John and Julia (Tuomi) Honigisto.
Irene was a life long resident of Chassell, MI. She graduated from Chassell School and went on to graduate from Soumi College and became a Computer Programmer at Soumi College.
She was active in her community and a devoted...
Charmaine F Wiitala
Apr 20, 2026
Lansing
Charmaine Ann (Freeman) Wiitala, 92, a longtime Copper Country resident, currently residing in Lansing, passed away after a short illness.
Charmaine was born on May 3, 1933, to Charles E. and Evelyn (Robinson) Freeman, in Stambaugh, Michigan. She was primarily raised by her grandparents, Charles and Clara Robinson, who managed different business interests, and grew up in Iron River, Manistique, and...
Erland Edward Lahnala
Apr 19, 2026
Atlantic Mine
Erland E. Lahnala, 77, resident of Atlantic Mine, passed away on Sunday, April 19, 2026, at Our Lady of Mercy Convalescent Home in Hubbell, where he had been a resident patient.
As requested, a private graveside service in the Liminga Cemetery will take place later this spring.
The Memorial Chapel Funeral & Cremation Service - Hancock Chapel is assisting the family...
Faye Victoria Granroth
Apr 14, 2026
Lower Pointe Mills
Faye Granroth, 79, a resident of Lower Pointe Mills unexpectedly passed away at her home on Tuesday April 14, , 2026, following an apparent heart attack.
The Memorial Chapel Funeral & Cremation Service – Hancock Chapel is assisting the family with the arrangements which will be announced at a later time.
Mildred M. Beauchamp
Apr 13, 2026
Ripley
Mildred Beauchamp, 93, a former resident of Ripley, passed away Monday, April 13, 2026, at Medora House of Portage Pointe in Hancock, where she has been a resident patient for the past year.
She was born on February 4, 1933, Hurontown, being the only girl out of 6 brothers, to George and Violet Miller. Mildred was a homemaker and her family...
Lyda Mary Stimac
Apr 12, 2026
Houghton
Lyda Stimac, age 102, a longtime resident of Houghton, passed away on Sunday, April 12, 2026, at the Omega House in Houghton.
She was born on November 2, 1923, in Hancock, becoming the 4th child of Guilo and Tisbe Paoli, who arrived in America from Italy in the early 1900's.
Lyda lived in Hancock for 12 years before moving to South Range,...
Kenneth A. Hanninen
Apr 6, 2026
Houghton
Kenneth A. Hanninen, 93, a former resident at the Bluffs Senior Living Community in Houghton, MI, passed away Monday, April 6, 2026,at the Omega House.
He was born on March 11, 1933, in Duluth, MN to Esther (Hanninen) Harju. Ken was raised by his grandparents, Andrew and Sophie Hyry, on a farm near Menahga, MN. He became a part of their...
Douglas J. Morin
Apr 4, 2026
South Range
Douglas “Doug” Morin passed away peacefully on Saturday, April 4,2026, at Aspirus Keweenaw Hospital after a short illness.
Doug was born on December 31, 1933, in Beacon Hill to Albert andWilhelmina (Tapio) Morin. He attended Stanton Township Schools andgraduated from Houghton High School in 1951.
Doug was a man of strong faith whose kindness and genuine care leftlasting impressions on everyone...
Philip Donald Kangas
Mar 31, 2026
Twin Lakes
Philip Donald Kangas, 78, a resident of Twin Lakes, died on Tuesday, March 31, 2026, at Canal View -- Houghton County following a lengthy illness. He was born on April 10, 1947, in Hancock, MI, a son of the late Donald and Bertha (Godell) Kangas. Phillip was raised in Painesdale and was a graduate of the Jeffers High School...
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