Obituaries

Jul 6, 2017

James A Franklin, a.k.a. “What a guy”, age 64 of Pelkie, MI passed away on Thursday, July 6, 2017 at The Lighthouse in Hancock, MI., after a short battle with cancer. He was born June 18, 1953 in Detroit, MI son of Sherrill and Dorothy (Holderfield) Franklin. James graduated from Cody High School in Detroit in 1971. He married the...

Jul 2, 2017

Debra Ann (Lundy) Niemela, age 62 of L’Anse, MI passed away on Sunday, July 2, 2017 at Bayside Village in L’Anse. She was born June 6, 1955 in L’Anse, daughter of Dennis and RuthAnn (Fredrickson) Lundy. Debra graduated from L’Anse High School in 1973. She worked for Home Care Medical in Milwaukee, and then owned a pasty Shop in Sheboygan,...

Jun 26, 2017

Rudolph Eino Haataja Jr., age 52 of L’Anse, MI passed away on Monday, June 26, 2017 at Baraga County Memorial Hospital. He was born October 10, 1964 in L’Anse, son of Rudolph and Joyce (Springsteen) Haataja. Rudy attended L’Anse schools, was in the Army National Guard for 10 years. He married the former Debra Larson on August 12, 1995...

Jun 23, 2017

Janet Marie Walker, age 73 of L’Anse, MI passed away on Friday, June 23, 2017 at Bayside Village in L’Anse. She was born October 22, 1943 in Detroit, MI daughter to Roy and Mary (Morin) Walker. At the age of 2, Janet suffered an accident that left her severely mentally and physically disabled. Despite her handicap, Janet retained a...

Jun 9, 2017

Kevin Arthur Brooks, age 55 of Clinton Twp., MI passed away unexpectedly on Friday, June 9, 2017 at Baraga County Memorial Hospital. He was born April 18, 1962 in Grosse Pointe Farms, MI. Kevin graduated for Lanse Cruese High School in Harrison Twp, received a degree in Mechanical Engineering from Michigan Technology University, and a Master’s degree from Detroit Mercy....

Jun 4, 2017

Regina "Jean" Faye Pallas, age 59, of Keweenaw Bay, MI passed away on Sunday, June 4th, 2017 at her home. She was born April 23, 1958 in Niles, MI daughter of Harry and Diva (Staton) Chastain. Jean graduated from Berrien Springs High School in 1976. She worked at Premier Tool & Die in Berrien Springs until moving to Keweenaw Bay...

Jun 4, 2017

Donald Robert Heikkila, age 56 of Baraga, MI passed away on Sunday, June 4, 2017 at Baraga County Memorial Hospital. Arrangements will be announced by Jacobson Funeral Home.

Jun 2, 2017

Barbara Kay (Pyle) Minor, age 70 of L’Anse, MI passed away on Friday, June 2, 2017 at her home. She was born October 22, 1946 in Battle Creek, MI daughter to Robert and Elizabeth (Middleton) Pyle. Barbara graduated from Marshall High School in 1964 and went on to be a cosmetologist and later an LPN. She worked at the...

Jun 1, 2017

Anne Marie Johnson, age 100 passed away on Thursday, June 1, 2017 at Portage Pointe in Hancock, MI. She was born November 28, 1916 in Hamtramck, MI daughter to Joseph and Jelena “Helen” Zivicnyak. Anne graduated from Pontiac High School. She married Theodore Johnson on August 20, 1940 in New York City. They resided in Bloomfield Twp. where she...

May 24, 2017

Roger Allen Seppanen, age 66 of L’Anse, MI passed away on Wednesday, May 24, 2017 at UP Health System Marquette, MI. He was born March 10, 1951 in L’Anse, son of Waino and Eleanor (Spruce) Seppanen. Roger will be greatly missed by his family but they have comfort in knowing he is at peace and in the glorious presence of...

May 22, 2017

Marilyn J.(Rickert) Bowers, 84, a resident of Keweenaw Bay, MI, passed away Monday evening, May 22, 2017 in Houghton, MI. She was born in Appleton, WI on September 9, 1932, to Eugene and Berniece (Hooyman) Rickert. She was a graduate of Appleton West High School Class of 1949. On February 3, 1951, she was united in marriage to John...

May 16, 2017

Ronald J. “Mike” Duguay, age 81 of L’Anse, MI died on Tuesday, May 16, 2017 at Baraga County Memorial Hospital. Mike was born February 4, 1936 in L’Anse, MI son of Ronald and Grace (Watters) Duguay. He attended school in L’Anse prior to going into the US Army in 1958. After serving our county he worked in Alaska for a...

May 9, 2017

Gale David Harkonen, 64, passed away on Tuesday, May 9, 2017 in St. Petersburg, FL.

He was born in Hancock, MI to Taisto and Ethel (Maki) Harkonen on June 19, 1952.  Gale went to school in L’Anse, and graduated from Northern Michigan University.  He loved volunteering at the Dali Museum and St. Anthony’s Hospital.

Gale...

Apr 12, 2017

Herman Kinnunen, age 89 of Watton, MI passed away on Wednesday, April 12, 2017 at his home. He was born February 20, 1928 at the family home in Watton, son of John and Maria Kinnunen. Herman graduated from L’Anse High School in 1947. On June 1, 1971, he married the former Jannetta Doers. Herman worked for the Forest Service...

Apr 9, 2017

JoAnne Reneé Racette (Makade-Gaagaagiw`ikwe), age 64 of L’Anse, MI began her new journey while surrounded by her children, on Sunday, April 9, 2017. Daughter of Ferdinand “Charles” and Elizabeth “Liz” Genschow; sister of Robert (Gladys) Genschow, Debra Parrish, Darlene Genschow, Garen (Rob) Waterbury, and Kent Kruse. JoAnne is a member of Keweenaw Bay Indian Community and in her youth, she...

Apr 3, 2017

Mark David Richard, 63, of L’Anse, died peacefully Monday, April 3, 2017 at his home with his family by his side. He was born June 29, 1953 in Toledo, Ohio, a son of the late Ellsworth and Donna (Pelky) Richard. Mark worked for Traverse City Packing and as a home builder before moving his family in 1991 to L’Anse where...

Mar 30, 2017

Evelyn Marie Corgan, 84, of Skanee, died peacefully Thursday morning, March 30, 2017, in Florence, Wisconsin. She was born December 30, 1932 in Herman, Michigan, a daughter of the late Eino J. and Sadie S. (Keranen) Koski. She was raised in Herman and L'Anse and was a 1950 graduate of L’Anse High School. Evelyn moved to the Detroit area...

Mar 29, 2017

Viola M. Peterson, 83, of L’Anse, died peacefully, Wednesday, March 29, 2017 at her daughter’s home surrounded by her loving family. She was born May 11, 1933 in Negaunee, a daughter of the late John and Exilda (LaJoye) Arsenault. Viola married Ronald “Pete” E. Peterson on May 30, 1951 at St. Paul’s Church in Negaunee. They met in 1950 at...

Mar 23, 2017

Bonnie Faye (Knapp) Kirschner, 49, of Escanaba passed away while surrounded by family on March 23, 2017, at University of Michigan Hospital in Ann Arbor, MI, following a brief illness. After attempting to make her debut to the world near the monkey cage at the Brookfield Zoo, Bonnie was born in Berwyn, Illinois, on March 26, 1967, the daughter...

Mar 12, 2017

Edwin “Eddie” Thomas Risku, age 62 of Watton, MI passed away on Sunday, March 12th, 2017 at Baraga County Memorial Hospital. He was born September 12, 1954 in L’Anse, MI son of the late Isaac Hjalmer and Martha (Franti) Risku. Eddie graduated from L’Anse High School in 1973. He worked with Risku Brothers Forest Products from 1973-96, then GDE...