Obituaries

Aug 8, 2026

World War Ⅱ Navy Seabee, Michigan Tech alumnus, retired Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory engineer and longtime Redding, Calif., resident Francis “Frank” Huegel died peacefully at home on Aug. 8, 2026. He was 101.

Frank was born on Nov. 13, 1924, and raised in Prohibition- and Great Depression-era Chicago, Ill. He and his older sister, now-deceased Agnes (Nick) Wagner of Concord, Calif.,...

Sep 29, 2026

Sep 29, 2026

Chassell

Gene M. Ortner, 99, a resident of the Bluff's Senior Living Community and former Chassell resident, passed away Tuesday, September 29, 2026, at the Omega House in Houghton.



The Memorial Chapel Funeral & Cremation Service - Hancock Chapel is assisting the family with the arrangements, which will be announced at a later time.

Sep 28, 2026

Painesdale

Robert Roy Mattila Sr of Painesdale gained his angel wings on September 28, 2026, with his loving family by his side in Cuba City, WI, where he has lived with his daughter Connie and her family for the last 7 years.

Robert was born January 18, 1942, at a whopping 13 lbs to James and Bertha (Maki) Mattila. He attended Houghton...

Sep 28, 2026

Houghton

Avis L. (George) West, 80, a resident of Houghton, passed away Monday, September 28, 2026, at home following a short illness.

She was born on February 25, 1946, in Wayland, MI, a daughter of the late Walter and Marion (Hog) Gilett. Avis was raised in Wayland, MI, and Ann Arbor, MI, and graduated from Ann Arbor High School. She then attended...

Sep 27, 2026

Sep 25, 2026

Painesdale

Steven Kneebone, 65, a resident of Painesdale, unexpectedly passed away Friday September 25, 2026, at the UP Health System - Portage Hospital following a short illness.

He was born on April 1, 1961, in Hancock, MI, a son of the late James and Jeannette (Silvola) Kneebone. Steve was raised in Atlantic Mine and was a graduate of the Jeffers High School...

Sep 24, 2026

Painesdale

Richard A. "Dicky" Andrews, 85, a resident of Painesdale, passed away Thursday, September 24, 2026, at the UP Health System- Portage Hospital shortly after being admitted.

Richard was born on October 5, 1940, in Trimountain, to the late Thomas and Irene (Raisanen) Andrews. He was raised in Painesdale and was a graduate of Jeffers High School with the class of 1958. 

Following...

Sep 22, 2026

Houghton Canal

Donald W. Juntunen, 86, a former resident of Houghton Canal Road, passed away on Tuesday, September 22, 2026, at Canal View – Houghton County, where he had been a resident for the past month.

He was born on September 29, 1939, in Bessmer, MI, the son of the late William A. and Julia (Soine) Juntunen. Don was raised in Houghton...

Sep 20, 2026

Chassell

Doris J. Veldhuis, 85, a resident of Chassell and former Toivola resident, suddenly passed away Sunday, September 20, 2026, at UP Health System - Portage Hospital shortly after arriving.

She was born on March 14, 1941, in Detroit, MI, a daughter of the late Harry and Mae (Van Hartesveldt) Veldhuis. Doris was raised in the Detroit area and was a graduate...

Sep 20, 2026

South Range

Husband, father, grandfather, brother, and friend.

Wayne Hackman, 74, of South Range, passed away peacefully on September 20, 2026, after a lengthy illness. Wayne was born in Fort Knox, KY on April 24, 1952, to Marvin Otto and Eleanor Flora (Somero) Hackman while serving stateside during the Korean War.

Wayne spent his childhood in Painsdale, graduating from Jeffers High School in...

Sep 15, 2026

Houghton

Victor Chartier, 96, a resident of Houghton, passed away Tuesday, September 15, 2026, at Garden View Memory Care in Calumet, Mi where he had resided since November. 

He was born on June 4, 1930, in Lake Linden, MI, a son of the late Adelore & Bertha (Pelland) Chartier. Victor was a graduate of the Lake Linden High School in 1948. He...

Sep 12, 2026

Greenland

James R. Saari, 48, a resident of Greenland and former Winona resident, passed away Saturday, September 12, 2026, at his home in Greenland.

He was born on January 12, 1978, in Ontonagon, MI, a son of David and Colleen (O’Connell) Saari. Jim was raised in Winona and attended the Winona and Jeffers Schools before receiving his GED.

Following school, Jim began a...

Sep 11, 2026

Dollar Bay

Kenneth C. Clouthier, 85, a resident of North Grosse Pointe Shores, passed away Friday, September 11, 2026, at HSHS St. Mary's Medical Center in Green Bay, WI, following a short illness.

He was born on April 16, 1941, in Lake Linden, a son of the late Henry and Leona (DeRoche) Clouthier Sr. Ken was raised in Lake Linden, he attended...

Sep 2, 2026

Chassell

Sharon Gail Stipech (Aho), 81, passed away peacefully at her home in Chassell on September 3, 2026.

Sharon was born in L’Anse on December 10, 1944, to Edward Aho and Aune Aho (Turpeinen). She grew up on her parents’ dairy farm in Baraga with her older sister Sandra and younger brother Dale. She begged her mother to let her go to...

Aug 24, 2026

Dollar Bay

Michael C. Sorvala, 60, a resident of Dollar Bay, passed away on Monday, August 24, 2026, at his home following an apparent heart attack.

A memorial service for Michael will be held at a later time. The family asks that memorial contributions may be directed to Memorial Chapel to assist with expenses.

The Memorial Chapel Funeral & Cremation Service – Hancock...

Aug 23, 2026

Hancock 

Ruth J. Lucier, 89, of Hancock, Michigan, passed away Sunday, August 23, at the Omega House in Houghton, with her family by her side. She was born July 6, 1937, in Hancock, Michigan, the daughter of the late Arvid and Ida (Saviluoto) Anderson. 

Ruth was born and raised in Hancock and was the youngest of 11 children. She graduated from Hancock...

Aug 22, 2026

Gary Thomas Evans, longtime resident of Houghton, died Saturday, August 22, 2026, at the Omega House in Houghton.

He was born December 30, 1940, in El Paso, Texas; he was the son of Thomas J. and Evelyn (Graver) Evans. His life's work was as an educator and educational consultant, primarily in the field of adult religious education and spiritual formation. Although...

Aug 22, 2026

Trimountain

Edward Joseph Virtanen, 64, of Trimountain, Michigan passed away peacefully on August 22, 2026 after a lifetime of perseverance, strength, and determination. He was born on November 18, 1961 to Frances Wiideman and Francis Virtanen of Toivola, Michigan. 

Edward was a devoted father, grandfather, brother, friend, and a man others could always count on. He was a quiet and stoic man,...

Aug 21, 2026

Wesley Chapel, FL

Marilyn M. Mickelsen, 83, of Wesley Chapel, FL, passed away peacefully on August 21, 2026, in Wesley Chapel, Florida.

She was born October 5, 1942, in Minneapolis, Minnesota, the daughter of Albert and Edna (Savela) Mickelson. Marilyn graduated from Minneapolis North High School with the Class of 1960. She then attended the University of Minnesota and graduated Magna Cum...