Obituaries

Jan 27, 2020

Hancock Ruth Ann Kangas (Ruthie), 93, a resident of Hancock passed away Monday, January 27, 2020 at Lighthouse Health and Rehabilitation Center (formerly Cypress Manor) in Hancock where she had been a patient for the past many years. Ruth died of symptoms stemming from a stroke she suffered approximately a week before her death. A memorial gathering will be held...

Jan 27, 2020

Chassell Lori A Lafave, 54, a resident of Chassell passed away unexpectedly at home January 27th 2020. She was born October 19th, 1965, to the late George & Kathy (Colombe) Sauvola. She was raised on Denton Rd and attended Houghton High School. After school, she remained in the area working numerous jobs where most recently she was employed at the...

Jan 25, 2020

Houghton/Big Traverse Robert J. Guay, 86, a resident of the Arbor Green and Big Traverse passed away Saturday January 25, 2020, following an apparent heart attack. The Memorial Chapel & Plowe Funeral Homes are assisting the family with the arrangements which will be announced at a later time.

Jan 19, 2020

Hancock William Edward Heinonen, 74, of Hancock passed away on January 19, 2020. Bill was born in Hancock, Michigan on November 21, 1945 the eldest child of Edward and Elaine (Nordstrom) Heinonen. He was a graduate of Hancock High School. After graduation he worked at Ford Motor Co. for 9 years. He served in the US Army from 1966-1968. In...

Jan 18, 2020

Jan 16, 2020

Chassell Donald B. LeMay, age 86, of Chassell, Michigan passed away on January 16th surrounded by his family. Donald was born in Ishpeming, MI. He graduated from Ishpeming High School and went on to graduate with Honors obtaining a degree in Mining Engineering from Michigan Technological University. He is survived by his loving wife Carole whom he met while attending...

Jan 12, 2020

Chassell William H. Sleeman, 78, a resident of Chassell, passed away Sunday, January 12, 2020 at his home with his family by his side. He was born on March 11, 1941, in Trimountain, MI a son of the late Henry and Lillian (Spiegal) Sleeman. William was raised in Trimountain and was a graduate from the Jeffers High School. On November...

Jan 10, 2020

South Range Michael H. Pyhtila, 55, a resident of South Range, passed away Friday January 10, 2020, at the Lighthouse of Hancock where he had been a patient since this past December following a lengthy illness. He was born on July 8, 1964, in Waukegan, IL, a son of Glenn and Shirley (Kemila) Pyhtila. Mike was raised in Houghton and...

Jan 8, 2020

Chassell Martha E. Hill, 82, a resident of Chassell, passed away Wednesday, January 8, 2020 at the Franklin House of Portage Pointe in Hancock. She was born on February 20, 1937, in Humbolt Twp., MI, a daughter of the late William and Helvi (Lakanen) Mattila. Martha was a graduate of the Republic Schools with the class of 1954. She then...

Jan 7, 2020

Oskar Bay Donald Oscar Hermanson, 78, of Oskar Bay died January 7, 2020 at the Omega House of Houghton. He was born in Hancock as the son of the late Harold and Martha (Ruohonen) Hermanson. Don will be remembered as an avid storyteller, videographer, outdoorsman, musician, and friend. Dons love of music and entertaining others served him well throughout his...

Jan 3, 2020

Hancock William E. Witt, 90, a resident of Hancock passed away Friday, January 3, 2020, at the UofM Hospital in Ann Arbor, following a short illness. He was born on June 28, 1929, in Waukegan, Il, a son of the late Edward and Geraldine (Morris) Witt. Bill was raised in Waukegan, IL, and was a graduate of the Waukegan High...

Jan 3, 2020

Chassell Barbara R. Wells, 73, a resident of Chassell passed away Friday January 3, 2020, at the Omega House in Houghton following a battle with cancer. A memorial service for Barbara is tentatively planned for later this spring. The Memorial Chapel & Plowe Funeral Homes of Chassell are assisting the family with the arrangements.

Dec 29, 2019

Chassell, Lee Andrew Vannewkirk, 53, a resident of Chassell, passed away Sunday December 29, 2019, at the Light House of Hancock where he had been a patient for the past 2 months. The Memorial Chapel & Plowe Funeral Homes of Chassell have been assisting the family with the arrangements.

Dec 28, 2019

Quincy Township Martha A. Pekkala, 97, a resident of Quincy Township, passed away Saturday December 28, 2019, at the Omega House in Houghton. She was born on February 9, 1922, a daughter of the late Werner and Jennie (Kallio) Maki. Martha was united in marriage to Wilho Pekkala. Preceding her in death were her husband; her parents, two brothers and...

Dec 25, 2019

Chassell, MI Esther S. (Richard) Hietala, 79, a resident of Chassell unexpectedly passed away Wednesday, December 25, 2019, at the UP- Health System Marquette Hospital with her family by her side. She was born on May 24, 1940, in Hancock, MI, a daughter of the late Eino and Hilda (Anderson) Riutta. Esther was raised in Superior Location and Hancock where...

Dec 23, 2019

Liminga Gloria J. Zenner, 72, a resident of the Liminga Rd. passed away Monday, December 23, 2019 at her home following a lengthy illness. The Memorial Chapel & Plowe Funeral Homes of Hancock are assisting the family with the arrangements which will be announced at a later time.

Dec 22, 2019

Lebanon Ohio Nicole Louise Manquen, 49, a resident of Lebanon Ohio, passed away December 22, 2019 at Miami Valley Hospital in Dayton, Ohio. She was born on July 23, 1970, in Hancock, the daughter of Arlen and Judy (Hannula) Juntunen. Nicole was a graduate of Houghton High School and attended Suomi College (Finlandia University) where she graduated with the class...

Dec 6, 2019

Keweenaw Bay Evelyn Esther (Kalliainen) Maki, age 76, formerly of Keweenaw Bay, passed away at St. John Ascension Hospital in Detroit on December 6, 2019 after a lengthy struggle with Lewy Body/Alzheimers. She was born to Rudolph and Sylvia (Routsi) Kalliainen in Portage Entry. She shared an idyllic childhood with her brothers, Walter and David. Evelyn married John William Maki...

Nov 23, 2019

Hurontown Josephine Eakin, 79. A resident of Hurontown passed away Saturday, November 23, 2019, at the Light House of Hancock where she had been a resident patient since this past July. She was born on August 9, 1940, in Trimountain, MI, a daughter of the late Nicholas and Mary (Koricic) Katalin. Josephine was raised in Painesdale and was a graduate...

Nov 18, 2019

Joyce W. Penegor, Hancock, formerly of Twin Lakes and Ontonagon, passed away peacefully on November 18, at Portage Pointe, where she was a resident for nearly two years. Prior to that, Joyce lived at the Bluffs apartments in Houghton for a year and a half. Joyce was born on July 10, 1931, in Ontonagon, MI to the late Lillian (Arkelin)...