Sonja Anderson
IRON MOUNTAIN — Sonja A. Eckerberg Anderson, 57, of 2020 W. Breen Ave., Kingsford, died Sunday, April 29, 2001, at her home.
She was born July 7, 1943, in Portland, Maine. Sonja was a longtime resident of Randville. She worked as a security guard for Louisiana-Pacific and a cook at the Chuckwagon.
Mrs. Anderson was a volunteer at Dickinson County Memorial Hospital. She sang and played bass guitar with many area bands and with her sisters. Sonja loved life and spending time with her family. She also enjoyed ceramics.
She married Ernest Eckerberg on July 12, 1973, in Iron Mountain. He preceded her in death on June 12, 1996.
On Nov. 7, 1999, Sonja married Alan Anderson in Iron Mountain.
She leaves her husband, Alan; two daughters, Brenda (Aron) Kranz of Vista, Calif. and Christina (Ed) Wesley of Hubertus, Wis.; four sons, Gregg (Linda Yoder) Opsahl of Spread Eagle, Wis., Thomas (Gail Epp) Opsahl of Kingsford, Rick (Audra) Opsahl of Spread Eagle, Wis. and Peter (Samantha) Eckerberg of Randville; her mother, Almeda Eckerberg of Niagara; four sisters, Paula (Don) Barker of Niagara, Linda (Warren) Anderson of Felch, Deborah (Lloyd) Hilsabeck of Niagara and Marie Murphy of Niagara; four brothers, Perley Hood of Sagola, and Harland Gignak, Raymond Gignak and Joseph Gignak, all of Maryland; three stepchildren, Melisa Ashburn of Kingsford, Melody DeJuliannie of Iron Mountain and Gregory (Jennifer) Anderson of Kingsford; 15 grandchildren, including a special granddaughter, Melissa Opsahl whom Sonja raised; two great-granddaughters; six step-grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by a daughter, Lisa Mack on May 15, 1999, her father, Einar Carlson on March 18, 2001, and a sister, Joan Sole.
Visitation will be today from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the Tondin-Ross & Freeman Funeral Home. Funeral services will be held Wednesday at 11 a.m. at First Covenant Church in Iron Mountain. Rev. Bruce Linsheid will officiate. Burial will be in the Channing Cemetery.
The Tondin-Ross & Freeman Funeral Home of Iron Mountain is in charge of arrangements.
Vera Sjoquist
HOMESTEAD, Wis. — Vera B. Sjoquist, 91, of Homestead went to be with the Lord, her best friend on Monday, April 30, 2001, at Florence Villa Nursing Home in Florence, Wis., surrounded by her children and their spouses.
She was born Jan. 25, 1910, in Omemee, N.D., daughter of the late William and Beatrice (Mitchell) Peart. She had been a resident of this area for most of her life.
Vera was employed at the Perfex Co., General Controls and Hancock Wood Products. At age 81, she retired as cook for the Homestead Senior Citizen Center.
She married her husband, Clifford on Feb. 24, 1932. He preceded her in death on Feb. 4, 2000.
Vera attended Homestead Baptist Church, was a member of the ladies aid of the church and the Over 60 Club.
She loved spending time with her children and grandchildren and enjoyed flower gardening, cooking and baking. She was an especially avid Chicago Cubs fan.
She was also preceded in death by a sister, Laura Peart; four brothers, Patrick, George, John and Ben Peart and a granddaughter.
She leaves three sons, Lloyd (Geraldine) Sjoquist of Necedah, Wis., Donald (Rosemary) Sjoquist of Florence and Norman (Gloria) Sjoquist of Kingsford; two daughters, Barbara (Richard) Olsen of Homestead and Carol (Robert) Lohr of Homestead; 18 grandchildren; 10 stepgrandchildren; 28 great-grandchildren and several stepgreat-grandchildren and many nieces and nephews.
Visitation will be from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. today at Erickson-Rochon & Nash Funeral Home in Iron Mountain.
Funeral services will be at 10 a.m. Wednesday at the funeral home. Rev. Bradley Moore will officiate.
Burial will be in Homestead-Aurora Cemetery.
Her grandsons will serve as pallbearers.
The Erickson-Rochon & Nash Funeral Home in Iron Mountain is in charge of arrangements.
Arthur Victorson
ESCANABA — Arthur Lee Victorson, 65, formerly of 4448 Emerson, Schiller Park, Ill. 60176, passed away on Thursday, April 19, 2001.
He was born Jan. 26, 1936, in Escanaba, son of Arthur Alexander and Delilah Victorson of Escanaba.
He was the beloved husband of Darlene Christenson and loving father to three children, Arthur Fredrick (Debbie), Donna Lynn (Mark) Poppert, and Jeffrey (Dorothy); and grandfather of five, Lane, Shanna, Brandon, Kristen and Arthur Jacob.
Art served in the U.S. Air Force from 1952-1955. Arthur was a barber in Chicago for 30 years and retired in January 2000.
He enjoyed cooking, guarding hunting, fishing and spending time with his family. He will be missed.
He is survived by his father, Arthur A. Victorson of Escanaba; one brother, Donald (Sue) Victorson of Escanaba; and one sister, Carol (Al) Tobey of Kingsford.
He was preceded in death by his mother, Delilah; and brothers, Mick and Dale Victorson.
Funeral services were held on April 22, 2001, at Rago Brothers Chapel in Chicago Ill.
Burial services were at the Gardens of Rest Cemetery with Pastor Peter Anderson officiating.
Violet Eckola
CRYSTAL FALLS — Violet Eckola, 90, of 210 North Third St., Crystal Falls, passed away Tuesday, May 1, 2001, at Crystal Manor Nursing Home in Crystal Falls.
She was born Nov. 16, 1910, in Crystal Falls, daughter of the late Archie and Mary (LaBlanc) Robichaud. She graduated from St. Joes Academy High School in Green Bay, Wis., in 1929.
On Sept. 19, 1931, she married her husband, the late Gust Eckola, who preceded her in death on Oct. 26, 1991.
Vi worked at the Crystal Manor Nursing Home for 24 years, two years as an aid and 22 years as an occupational therapist, retiring in 1987.
She was an active member of the Crystal Manor Auxiliary and Iron County Medical Care Facility Auxiliary, Guardian Angels Catholic Church in Crystal Falls and the American Legion Auxiliary Unit 87.
Vi performed in the variety show for five years, played bridge on Mondays, played cribbage with the cribbage league on Wednesday and was also a member of a monthly pinochle club.
In 1996, she was awarded with the Crystal Falls Lion’s Club “Citizen of the Year Award.”
Vi loved to dance and was a faithful follower of the “Accordiannies.”
She leaves three daughters, Dale (Lawrence) Guiliani, Sanna Davis and Patricia Johnnie (Bernard) Kosiba, all of Crystal Falls; a daughter-in-law, Lizabeth Eckola of Sheboygan, Wis.; eight grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren.
In addition to her husband, Gust, she was preceded in death by three sons, James A. Eckola on Feb. 7, 2001, and two infant sons; seven brothers, Leo William, Raymond, Lionel, Arthur, Edward, and Jack, and two sisters, Rose Phillips and Lillian Galbraith.
Visitation will be from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. Monday, May 7, at Guardian Angels Catholic Church in Crystal Falls.
American Legion Women’s Auxiliary Unit 87 will conduct a memorial service at 10:45 a.m. Monday at the church.
Mass of Christian Burial will be at 11 a.m. Monday at the church. Fr. Ray Zeugner will officiate.
The family is being served by the Jacobs-Plowe Funeral Home of Crystal Falls.
Daniel Robbins
IRON RIVER — Daniel Robbins, 66, of 10 7th Ave., Iron River, died Monday, April 30, 2001, at St. Joseph Hospital in Marshfield, Wis.
He was born June 7, 1934, in Ann Arbor, son of the late Percival and Florence (Mayzes) Robbins. He graduated from Ann Arbor High School in 1951, where he played baseball and later attended the University of Michigan.
On Dec. 26, 1953, he married the former Barbara Huntwork and the couple continued to make their home in the Ann Arbor area, where Dan was employed as a book printer for 42 years at various printing firms. In 1993, following his retirement, the couple moved to Iron River.
After moving to Iron River, Dan worked at Ski Brule and the deli at Angeli Foods prior to becoming hired as the director of the Iron County Chamber of Commerce in 1995.
Active in community affairs, he had been a member of the Iron River Consolidation Committee and was a member of the Iron County Golden K Kiwanis Club. He had served as the first president of the Michigan Wildlife Habitat Federation and was a past president of the Michigan United Conservation Clubs (MUCC). He had also been a past president of Outdoors Forever and the Tri County Sportsmen’s League in Saline, lower Michigan.
He had been a member of Trale-Up which is a conservation group actively involved in building handicapped accessible outdoors trails. He had also served as a group mediator.
Dan was a member of First Presbyterian Church in Iron River, where he sang in the church choir.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by a brother, Jim Robbins.
He leaves his wife, Barbara; a daughter, Gayle Robbins of Iron River; three sons, Rick and Michael (Terry) Robbins, both of Jackson, lower Michigan, and Scott (Rebecca) Robbins of Hudson, N.H.; his mother-in-law, Ethel Huntwork of Iron River; a brother, Ronald (Beverly) Robbins of Ann Arbor; a sister, June Krebs of Ann Arbor; seven grandchildren, Owen Swinford, Jamie and Michael Travis, Lynden, Sam, Robert and MacKenzie Robbins and a sister-in-law, Marge Huntwork of Iron River.
Friends may call from noon to 1 p.m. Saturday at First Presbyterian Church in Iron River.
Memorial services will be at 1 p.m. Saturday at the church.
The family suggests that memorials can be made to the Michigan Wildlife Habitat Federation or to Outdoors Forever. The family may also be reached by e-mail at brobbins@up.net
The Langenberg Funeral Home-Iron River Chapel is in charge of arrangements.
William Bornfleth
IRON MOUNTAIN — William F. “Bill” Bornfleth, 86, of 215 W. Lincoln St., Iron Mountain, died Tuesday, May 1, 2001, at the Florence Villa Nursing Home in Florence, Wis.
He was born July 6, 1914, in Milwaukee, son of the late William and Loretta (Eifert) Bornfleth. He lived in the Spread Eagle, Wis. area for many years and resided in Iron Mountain since 1991.
Bill worked at Grede Foundry for 34 years, and retired as a supervisor in 1978. While at Grede, he worked part-time at Spread Eagle Marine for a number of years.
He was preceded in death by his first wife, Georgia Bornfleth, in 1983.
He married Genevieve “Gen” Vaillancourt on Sept. 28, 1984.
Bill was a member of the 25th Century Club of Grede Foundry and a life member of the Iron Mountain Elks Lodge 700.
He was an avid Green Bay Packer fan.
He was also preceded in death by his granddaughter, Sheri Bornfleth.
He leaves his wife, Genevieve “Gen;” two sons, James (Sandra) Bornfleth of Quinnesec and Tom (Cathy) Bornfleth of Green Bay, Wis.; two daughters, Barb (Tom) Gauthier of Kingsford and Sharon (Jim) Izzo of Milwaukee; two sisters, Nancy (Don) Kindt of Brookfield, Wis., and Jane (John) Drott of Rhinelander, Wis.; his grandchildren, Jason and Stephanie Gauthier, Chad, Jon and Amanda Bornfleth, Chris (Dan) Beauchamp, Michele (Tom) Palus, Stacy and Brad Izzo; his great-grandchildren, Ashley, Becky, Sidney, Shea, Jacob, Taylor, Mitch and McKenna, and several nieces and nephews.
Visitation will be from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. Friday at Erickson-Rochon & Nash Funeral Home in Iron Mountain.
Funeral services will be at 6 p.m. Friday at the funeral home. Fr. Charles Piper will officiate.
Burial will be in Woodlawn Cemetery in Florence, Wis.
The Erickson-Rochon & Nash Funeral Home of Iron Mountain is in charge of arrangements.
Eunice Hayden
IRON MOUNTAIN — Eunice Hayden, 91, of 105 Withworth St., Kingsford, went to be with the Lord on Tuesday, May 1, 2001, at ManorCare Health Services in Kingsford.
Nanny, as she was known by to everyone, was born Oct. 30, in Bruce Mines, Canada, the only child of the late Audie and Gertrude Lewis. As a young child, she moved to Kingsford with her parents, when her father joined Ford Motor Company and remained in the area the rest of her life.
She married John C. Hayden on July 29, 1927, at the Methodist Church in Menominee. They settled in East Kingsford and raised two children, daughters, Marjorie and Geraldine.
She was employed at the Allyn Shoppe in Iron Mountain by her dear aunt and uncle, the late George and Roxie Allyn for many years before moving to Sackim’s Department Store. Over the years she became a downtown icon, serving customers at Hayward Interiors, Ladies Fashion and Ben Franklin. She continued her sales career with Avon for a number of years and retired after her final job, babysitting for John Michael Bray, while his parents worked.
Nanny loved to crochet, “bum” around with her daughter, Gerry, and spend time with her grandchildren.
An avid baseball fan, she never missed a Cubs game on TV.
Nanny attended every sports and school activity of her grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
She took great pride in the beautiful African violets she grew over the years and her home which she lived in until her illness in January.
She invested her entire life looking after the needs of her family.
In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, John C. Hayden and her daughter, Marjorie J. Shirley.
She leaves her daughter, Geraldine (Bobby) Henry of Kingsford. Nanny lovingly cared for her three grandchildren that grew up in her neighborhood, William (Ragene) Henry of Marquette, Suzanne (Gary) Haberman of Marquette, and Carol (James) Ries of Kingsford and her great-grandchildren, Chad Henry of Grand Rapids, lower Michigan, Ryan Henry of Marquette, Krista, Kimberly and Morgan LaJoice of Marquette, Anthony Sculati of Minneapolis and Jordan Sculati of Kingsford.
She is also survived by Marjorie’s children, David Phillips of Las Vegas, Beth Ann Shirley of Arizona, Barbara (Terry) Hammond of Louisiana, and Jeri (Ron) Steele of Pittsburgh.
Nanny will be sadly missed by her family and dear friends, Donna Sokol, Grace Pearson, and Gene Tedeski.
Private family services will be held.
Burial will be in the Quinnesec Cemetery.
The Erickson-Rochon & Nash Funeral Home of Iron Mountain is in charge of arrangements.
Toivo Lehto
CRYSTAL FALLS — Toivo Lehto, 88, of Crystal Falls passed away on Tuesday, May 1, 2001, at the Crystal Manor Nursing Home in Crystal Falls.
Toivo was born Jan. 21, 1913, in Smithson Location, son of the late Hjalmar and Mary (Seppala) Lehto. She was a long time resident of Crystal Falls and attended school there in his youth.
He worked a lot of different jobs throughout his life. He was a miner, farmer, river guide, auto mechanic and elected as township highway commissioner, a position in which he served until his retirement around 1988 and kept going back to whenever they called and needed his help.
Toivo was a member of United Lutheran Church in Crystal Falls.
He liked to hunt, fish and dabbled in many other hobbies.
He leaves his daughter, Roberta Lehto of Walled Lake, lower Michigan; a brother, Towner (Agnes) Lehto of Crystal Falls; a sister, Signe Pierantoni of Crystal Falls; dearest friend, Ena Annala of Alpha; eight grandchildren; six great-grandchildren, and several nieces and nephews.
He was also preceded in death by his parents; a son, Robert Lehto; a daughter, Darlene Riverside, and a sister, Toine Hardt.
Visitation will be from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. Friday at United Lutheran Church in Crystal Falls.
Memorial services will be at 11 a.m. Friday at the church. Rev. Dr. John Linna will officiate. Dr. William J. Williamson will give the eulogy.
The family is being served by Jacobs-Plowe Funeral Home of Crystal Falls.
Marshall Mylchreest
IRON MOUNTAIN — Marshall “Butch” Mylchreest, 58, of 1325 16th Ave., Iron River, died Monday evening, April 30, 2001, at St. Mary’s Hospital in Rochester, Minn.
He was born July 23, 1942, in Stambaugh, son of Helen (Nowicki) and the late Mervin Mylchreest. He grew up in Stambaugh, graduated from Stambaugh High School in 1961 and served in the Army National Guard.
Mr. Mylchreest moved to Manitowoc, Wis. and was employed at the Mirro Aluminum Co. from 1963 to 1968 and then at the Aluminum Specialty Co. from 1968 to 1977.
He married the former Margaret Urban in 1963 in Manitowoc and the couple moved to Gaastra in 1977, where they owned and operated the former Shamrock Bar and Lanes until 1981.
Mr. Mylchreest then became employed as the sexton of the Stambaugh Cemetery until 1990 when he went to work at Lakeshore Inc. He also did some part-time work at the Riverside Plaza Cinema and as a bartender at the Wooden Nickle. From 1996 until retiring in 2000 due to ill health, he had been employed as a rodman for L&W Surveying.
An avid sportsman, he was a past president of the U.S. Sportsman’s Alliance and a member of the Outdoor Sports Club of Iron County. For the past 20 years, he had been a hunter safety instructor/coordinator and had also served on the Iron County Fair Board.
Earlier this year, he was recognized by the Iron County Chapter of Wildlife Unlimited as the recipient of the 2001 Conservationist Award and by the Department of Natural Resources for his many years of service as a hunter safety instructor. When he lived in Wisconsin, he had also been a troop leader and adviser for the Boy Scouts.
In addition to his father, he was preceded in death by a brother, Donald Mylchreest and a sister, Marlene Halvas.
He leaves his wife, Margaret; a son, Mark Mylchreest of Iron River; three daughters, Melanie (Andrew) Menghini of Caspian, Michelle (Peter) Kolbas of Iron River and Mary Lynn (Tom) Nacius of Sauk City, Wis.; three brothers, Alan Toukkalas of Albion, lower Michigan, and Randy (Linda) Mylchreest and Jerry (Nancy) Mylchreest, both of Iron River; three sisters, Sally (Don) Fioranai of Atlantic Mine, Donna Solka of Grass Lake, lower Michigan and Carolyn Beck of Mancelona, lower Michigan; his mother, Helen Christofferson of Payson, Ariz.; his stepmother, Pearl Mylchreest of Iron River; 12 grandchildren; and several aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews and cousins.
Visitation will be held today from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the Langenberg Funeral Home - Iron River Chapel. A liturgical prayer service will be held at 5:30 p.m. today at the funeral home.
Funeral services will be held Friday at 10:30 a.m. at the funeral home and at 11 a.m. at St. Agnes Catholic Church in Iron River. Rev. Fr. Norm Clisch, pastor, will celebrate the Mass of Christian Burial. Burial will be in the Stambaugh Cemetery. Members of the West Side Veterans Council will accord graveside military rites.
Pallbearers will be Ed Erickson III, Jim Duda, Ken “Butch” Andree, Dan Stolberg, Frank Pairolero and Dean Dallavalle.
The Langenberg Funeral Home - Iron River Chapel is in charge of funeral arrangements.
Robert Babcock
HARRISON — Robert John Babcock, 71, of Harrison, lower Michigan, died Sunday, April 22, 2001.
He was born June 7, 1929, in Iron Mountain, son of the late Ralph and Beatrice (Jensen) Babcock.
On July 10, 1954, he married Mary Ellen Houtteman in Detroit. Together they raised four children.
Bob retired from the Selfridge Air Base in 1989 and moved to Harrison.
He became a member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 1075, Lions Club and volunteered for the Clare County Sheriff Department. He was also part of the Hamilton Township Neighborhood Watch and enjoyed participating in the CB road patrol.
Bob loved the outdoors, cleaning his “park,” hunting and enjoyed spending time with his grandchildren.
He was very close to family and friends, and was always there for others.
He leaves his wife, Mary; a son, Kevin (Cindy) Babcock of Port Huron; two daughters, Karen Babcock and Kimberly Babcock, both of Detroit; four brothers, Rowland (Mary) Babcock, Richard (Pat) Babcock, Carl Lynch and Earl Lynch; two sisters, Ruth (Owen) Clark and Carol (Floyd) Scott; 12 grandchildren, and a great-grandchild.
He was also preceded in death by a daughter, Kathleen, and a brother, Ralph Babcock.
Services were held at St. Athanasius Catholic Church. Fr. David Howell officiated.
Burial was in Hillcrest Cemetery in Greenwood Township.
Lois Hagstrom
FLORENCE, Wis. — Lois M. Hagstrom, 88, of Florence died Thursday, May 3, 2001, at Florence Villa Nursing Home in Florence.
Lois was born June 17, 1912, in Fern, Wis., daughter of the late Earl J. and Mary Ann (Simdars) Biller. She attended school in Fern and graduated from Florence High School.
She married Henry Hagstrom on July 26, 1930, in Waukegan, Ill. They resided in Chicago from 1930 until 1967. In 1967 the couple moved to Florence. He preceded her in death in 1970.
Lois served as a Boy Scout leader and chairperson of the American Red Cross for many years.
She was an active member of the Jehovah’s Witnesses Kingdom Hall of Iron Mountain and Kingsford.
She will be missed by her family and many friends.
She leaves two sons, Richard Hagstrom and Don Hagstrom, both of Florence; a daughter, Jean (James) Bor of Chicago; a brother, Lloyd “Bud” (Esther) Biller of Las Vegas, Nev.; two sisters, Lethia Holzhausser of Chicago and Ruth (Bill) Schleicher of Las Vegas; four grandchildren, Lori Lomma, Christopher (Jolie) Bor, Julie Bor, Bryan Bor; three great-grandchildren, Nicholas Lomma, Daniel Lomma and Miles Bor; special person, Paulette Neustrom, and numerous nieces and nephews.
She was also preceded in death by two brothers, Francis and Harry Biller; a sister, Helen Maureen Richheimer, and a granddaughter, Kari Bor.
Visitation will be from 3 p.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday at Jacobs-Lundholm Funeral Home in Florence.
Funeral services will be at 4 p.m. Sunday at the funeral home. Elder Don Arrowood will officiate. Burial will be in Woodlawn Cemetery in Florence.
The family is being served by the Jacobs-Lundholm Funeral Home of Florence.
Mark Bales
VULCAN — Mark Lee Bales, 34, of Vulcan died Thursday, May 3, 2001, at Dickinson County Memorial Hospital in Iron Mountain.
He was born Feb. 14, 1967, in Middletown, Ohio, son of Ronald and Joyce (Carley) Bales.
Mark graduated in 1985 from Norway High School. He served in the National Guard.
He leaves his daughter, Whitney Bales of Norway; a son, Codey Bales of Norway; his parents, Ronald and Joyce Bales of Vulcan; his paternal grandmother, Betty Bales of Monroe, Ohio; his maternal grandparents, Harold and Zephrine Carley of Nahma Junction, Delta County; two brothers, Ted (Cathy) Bales of Cold Spring, Minn., and Chad (Michele) Bales of Maryville, Tenn.; a sister, Tina Bales of Wilmette, Ill.; two nieces, Carley Bales and Brooke Bales, several aunts, uncles and cousins. He is also survived by Whitney and Codey’s mother, Vicki Skoglund of Norway.
Visitation will be from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Monday at Miner Funeral Home in Norway.
Funeral services will be at 1 p.m. Monday at the funeral home. Pastor Lonnie Wilson of Community Bible Chapel will officiate.
Marjorie Lee
IRON RIVER — Marjorie Lee, 81, of Iron River passed away Friday, May 4, 2001, at Iron County General Hospital in Iron River.
She was born Oct. 19, 1919, in Republic, daughter of the late Joseph and Mathilda (Vadnais) Grant. She was a lifelong resident and attended the Iron River schools and graduated from Iron River High School in 1937.
Marjorie was employed by Coleman Products in Iron River for many years, retiring in 1985 when the plant closed.
She was a member of St. Agnes Catholic Church in Iron River, St. Agnes Altar Society and the American Legion Auxiliary.
Marjorie was preceded in death by her daughter, Carol Soucie; brother, Robert Grant and two sisters, Loretta Mitchell and Dorothy Gagne.
She leaves her son, James (Laura) Lee of Aiken, S.C.; a daughter, Jacquelyn (Gary) Fitzpatrick of Green Bay, Wis.; a son-in-law, Gregg Soucie of Elmhurst, Ill.; a brother, Joseph Grant of Iron River; two sisters, Mae Webber of Caspian and Alice Campbell of Iron River; seven grandchildren, Robert, Edward and Michael Soucie, Sandra Jeffrey, Kelly and Kevin Fitzpatrick and Alec Lee; five great-grandchildren, and many nieces and nephews.
Visitation will be from 9 a.m. to 10:45 a.m. Monday at the Jacobs Funeral Home in Iron River.
Funeral services will be at 10:45 a.m. Monday at the funeral home and at 11 a.m. at St. Agnes Catholic Church in Iron River. Rev. Norman Clisch, pastor, will offer the Mass of Christian Burial.
Burial will be in Resthaven Cemetery in Iron River.
The Jacobs Funeral Home of Iron River is in charge of arrangements.
Justin Wilson
FLORENCE, Wis. — Justin M. “Justy” Wilson, 63, of C-207 Lake St., Commonwealth, Wis., died unexpectedly Saturday, May 5, 2001, at his home.
He was born Nov. 26, 1937, in Viroqua, Wis., son of the late Howard and Frances (Henry) Wilson. He was raised and attended school in the LaFarge area in western Wisconsin.
After high school he entered the U.S. Army and served his country from 1960 to 1964.
Justy then moved to West Bend, Wis., and started worked at the West Bend Co., where he met his wife-to-be, Marion Schweiger. They were married Nov. 3, 1956, and enjoyed 44 1/2 wonderful years together. They resided in West Bend until 1975 when they moved to Florence and owned and operated Justy’s Inn. They sold the bar in 1995 when Justy was forced to retire. During that time he met and made many friends and was very active in the community.
Justy was a founding member of the Florence County Hardball Association, Florence Volunteer Fire Department, Florence Rescue Squad, Florence Lions Club, American Legion and an honorary member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW).
He enjoyed being around people and helping in anyway he could.
Justy enjoyed working in his garden and fixing small engines and appliances.
His greatest joy was his family and home, especially his two grandsons who have been grandpa’s shadows. We will all miss him very much.
He leaves his wife, Marion; a son, Peter (Amy) Wilson of Florence; a daughter, Sharon (Mark) Johnson and their two sons, Nicholas and Tanner, all of Florence; three brothers, Hubert (Phyllis) Wilson of West Bend, David (Gwen) Wilson of Kewauskum, Wis., and Milan (Connie) Wilson of Milwaukee; five sisters, Shelby Carsten of Tacoma, Wash., Charlotte Stalsberg of Janesville, Wis., Opal (Don) Ensenbach of Phoenix, Ariz., Betsy (Burt) Wegner of Tomah, Wis., and Nerma (Roger) Strehlow of Mayville, Wis., and many nieces and nephews.
He was also preceded in death by Marion’s parents, who thought of him as a son; a grandson, Nathan Johnson and two brothers, Ralph and Danny Wilson.
Visitation will be from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. Tuesday at the Jacobs-Lundholm Funeral Home in Florence.
Funeral services will be at 7 p.m. Tuesday at the funeral home. Pastor Doug Johnson will officiate.
Burial will be at 11:45 a.m. Wednesday at Woodlawn Cemetery in Florence.
A memorial will be established in his memory.
The family is being served by the Jacobs-Lundholm Funeral Home of Florence.
George Collins
IRON MOUNTAIN — George R. Collins, 76, of 1030 Mellen St., Quinnesec, died Saturday, May 5, 2001, at ManorCare Health Services in Kingsford.
He was born Feb. 20, 1925, in Iron Mountain, son of the late Edward and Cora (Peterson) Collins. He was a lifelong resident of the area and graduated from Kingsford High School in 1943.
George worked from 1943 until 1961 on his family’s farm. In 1961 he became a pulp wood producer working up until the last few months.
He was an active member of the Jehovah’s Witnesses Kingdom Hall of Iron Mountain and Kingsford.
George was an avid deer hunter, who loved the outdoors.
He was also preceded in death by a brother, Raymond Collins, on May 17, 1989.
Visitation will be from 3 p.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday at Jacobs Funeral Home in Iron Mountain.
Funeral services will be at 4 p.m. Tuesday at the funeral home. Elder Steve Kindness will officiate.
Burial will be in Cemetery Park in Iron Mountain.
The family is being served by the Jacobs Funeral Home of Iron Mountain.
E. Evelyn Cowling
IRON MOUNTAIN —E. Evelyn Cowling, 87, formerly of 401 East D St., Iron Mountain, died Sunday, May 6, 2001, at Pinecrest Medical Care Facility in Powers.
She was born July 2, 1913, in Iron Mountain, daughter of the late Harry and Elizabeth Ann (Clements) Cowling. She had been a resident of Iron Mountain her entire life and was a 1933 graduate of Iron Mountain High School.
Miss Cowling worked at Chalmers in Iron Mountain from 1936 to 1959 and then for M. Cohodes & Sons from 1959 until her retirement in 1979.
She was a member of First Presbyterian Church in Kingsford, Miriam Circle and the church choir. She was also a member of the Iron Mountain-Kingsford Business and Professional Women and the Dickinson County Memorial Hospital League.
Miss Cowling enjoyed knitting and over the years made many baby booties for the hospital gift shop.
She was preceded in death by a brother, Fred Cowling, and a sister, Elsie Flaminio.
She leaves many nieces, nephews, great-nieces, great-nephews, great-great-nieces, great-great-nephews and cousins.
Memorial services were held at 11 a.m. today at First Presbyterian Church in Kingsford. Rev. Michael March officiated.
Burial will be in Cemetery Park in Iron Mountain.
In lieu of flowers, a memorial will be established in her memory at First Presbyterian Church in Kingsford.
The Erickson-Rochon & Nash Funeral Home in Iron Mountain is in charge of arrangements.
Francis Gene Fleischfresser
IRON MOUNTAIN — Francis Gene Fleischfresser, 76, of W-8007 Dawn’s Lake Road, Breitung Township, died Sunday, May 6, 2001, at his home.
Gene was born Jan. 30, 1925, in Peshtigo, Wis., son of the late Frank and Jessie (Lamson) Fleischfresser. He had been a resident of this area his entire life.
He married the former Elizabeth Racine on March 2, 1946, in Marinette, Wis.
Gene worked for Niagara of Wisconsin Corp. for almost 40 years.
He loved spending time with his grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
He leaves his wife, Elizabeth “Betty;” two daughters, Sharon (Bernard) Rouse of Niagara, Wis., and Susan (Floyd) Rouse of Madison, Wis.; two brothers, Clarence Fleischfresser of Peshtigo, Wis., and Stanley (Virginia) Fleischfresser of Fond du Lac, Wis.; four grandchildren, Kristie (Mark) Marcouiller of Niagara, Wis., John (fiancee, Marie) Kuester of Atlanta, Ga., Brian (Janice) Rouse of Madison, Wis., and Scott Rouse of Milwaukee, and seven great-grandchildren.
Private family services are being held.
The Erickson-Rochon & Nash Funeral Home in Iron Mountain is in charge of arrangements.
John Wickman
IRON RIVER — John W. Wickman, 59, of 1001 Selden Road, Iron River, died Wednesday, May 2, 2001, at Iron County General Hospital.
He was born Aug. 16, 1941, in Tiffin, Ohio, son of the late Nestor and Ann (Cummings) Wickman.
He earned a degree in medical technology and had been employed as a medical lab technician in South Bend, Ind., Marquette, Escanaba and Hurley, Wis., prior to moving to Iron River a few months ago. He had been employed in the lab at Iron County General Hospital.
He was an associate member of the American Society of Clinical Pathologists and had been a former member of the First United Methodist Church in Marquette.
He leaves an aunt, Dorothy Basso of Ann Arbor, lower Michigan.
There will be no visitation.
Graveside services will be at 3 p.m. (Eastern time) at the Northland Chapel Gardens in Marquette. Rev. Ross Nicholson, associate pastor of First United Methodist Church in Marquette, will officiate.
The Langenberg Funeral Home-Iron River Chapel is in charge of arrangements.
Stanley O’Leksy
KINGSFORD — Stanley R. O’Leksy, 88, of 813 East Sagola Ave., Kingsford, died Monday, May 7, 2001, at Dickinson County Memorial Hospital in Iron Mountain.
Visitation will be from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. Wednesday at the Kingsford Funeral Home. Parish prayers will be recited at 5:30 p.m. Wednesday at the funeral home.
Services will be at 10 a.m. Thursday at American Martyrs Catholic Church in Kingsford. Fr. Joseph Gouin will officiate.
Burial will be in Norway Township Cemetery.
The Erickson-Rochon & Nash Kingsford Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Robert Goetz
GREEN BAY, Wis. — Robert Francis Goetz, 58, of 324 Maple St., Kingsford, formerly of Green Bay, Wis., and Algoma, Wis., died Sunday, May 6, 2001, in Iron Mountain.
He was born on Easter morning, April 25, 1943, in Algoma, son of Robert and Frances (Klarowske) Goetz.
On Jan. 12, 1964, he married Sandra Witte at First United Methodist Church in Green Bay, Wis.
Robert was a minister, carpenter, and loved the outdoors.
He leaves his wife, Sandra; four children and their spouses, Rebecca and Philip Herzog of Lynchburg, Va., Jennifier and Michael Van Herwynen of Appleton, Wis., John and Maureen Goetz of Bristow, Va., Sarah Goetz and her boyfriend, Christopher Lang of Waukesha, Wis.; four grandsons, Robert, Nathan, Benjamin and Mitchel; his mother Frances Goetz; a sister, Jane Watson of Charleston, S.C.; three brothers and their wives, Greg and Catherine Goetz of Seymour, Wis., Fred Goetz of Green Bay, Wis., and Denis and Linda Goetz of Pembine, Wis., and many nephews, nieces and cousins.
He was preceded in death by his father, Robert N. Goetz on Oct. 21, 2000.
Friends may call from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. Wednesday at the Blaney Funeral Home, 1521 Shawano Ave., Green Bay.
The funeral service will be at 11 a.m. Wednesday at the funeral home. Pastor Merton Jannusch will officiate.
Entombment will be in the Shrine of the Good Shepherd Mausoleum.
A memorial fund has been established in his name.
The Blaney Funeral Home of Green Bay is in charge of arrangements.
Joseph Kusmitch
CRYSTAL FALLS — Services and Mass of Christian Burial for Joseph Paul Kusmitch, 74, of Scottsdale, Ariz., who died Tuesday, April 10, 2001, at Carl T. Hayden Veterans Hospital in Phoenix, Ariz., will be held at Guardian Angels Catholic Church in Crystal Falls on today. The rosary will be recited at noon, followed by the Chaplet of Divine Mercy and VFW Honor Guard.
Mass of Christian Burial will begin at 1 p.m. following by graveside services at Evergreen Memorial Cemetery.
Memorials may be made to Guardian Angels Catholic Church in Crystal Falls.
Jeffrey Mead
ALPENA — Jeffrey Richard Mead, 38, of Alpena died Saturday, May 5, 2001, as a result of injuries sustained in an automobile accident in Alpena.
He was born June 16, 1962, in Highland Park, Ill., son of Richard and Marie (Hinds) Mead. He graduated from Norway High School in 1980 and in 1987 from the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor and Ferris State College with a doctorate in optometry.
Jeffrey was a partner with Owen, Treston and Mead Optometry of Grand Blanc, lower Michigan.
On Aug. 22, 1987, he married his college sweetheart, Maureen C. Skwirsk in Grand Blanc.
Jeffrey was a member of St. Catherine Catholic Church in Ossineke, lower Michigan, and Fellow of American Academy of Optometrists. He also served as an assistant coach for the Thunder Bay Soccer Association Travel Team.
He leaves his wife, Dr. Maureen C. Mead; four sons, Isaac Jeffrey, Garrett Richard, Aaron Carl and Mitchell Jarred, all at home; his parents, Richard Mead of Vulcan and Marie Hinds Mead of Vulcan; his grandparents, Ike and Maxine Hinds of Norway; his grandmother, Mary Mead of Mount Pleasant, lower Michigan; a brother, Matthew Mead (fiancee, Kara Coonrod) of Vulcan; his uncle, John (Patti) Hinds of Norway; three cousins, John, Joey and Jacob Hinds of Norway; his father-in-law and mother-in-law, Carl and Catherine Skwirsk of Hubbard Lake, lower Michigan; two brothers-in-law, Anthony (Michelle) Skwirsk of Pinckney, lower Michigan, and Thomas (Tanya) Skwirsk of Canton, lower Michigan, a niece, Danielle Skwirsk, and two nephews, Kyle and Jacob Skwirsk.
He was preceded in death by his grandfather, Lyman Mead; a brother, Eric Merlin Mead, and his great-grandmother, Theresa Gall.
Friends may call from 3 p.m. to 9 p.m. (Eastern time) Friday at the Bannan Funeral Home in Alpena. A prayer service will be held at 7:30 p.m. Friday at the funeral home.
Visitation will also be held from 11 a.m. to noon Saturday at St. Catherine Catholic Church in Ossineke.
Funeral services will be at noon Saturday at the church. Rev. Lawrence A. Kelleher will officiate.
Burial will be in St. Catherine Catholic Church Cemetery.
A memorial service will be held at Bethany Lutheran Church in Norway in the very near future.
Memorials may be made to Thunder Bay Soccer Association, Bethany Lutheran Church in Norway and St. Catherine Restoration Fund.
