Obituaries

Oct 23, 2023

Bernice E. Nord, age 95 of Palm Harbor, FL passes away on Monday, October 23, 2023 at her home with her sister by her side. She was born June 19, 1928 in L'Anse, MI daughter of Leo and Tyyne (Rivers) Tollefson. Bernice graduated from L'anse High School in 1946. She married Leland Nord on July 22, 1950 in L'Anse....

Oct 18, 2023

Curtis Gale Royal, age 80 of Skanee, MI passed away on Wednesday, October 18th, 2023 at McLaren Northern Michigan Hospital in Petoskey, Michigan. He was born August 19, 1943 in New Madrid County, Missouri, son of Kern and Hazel (Stewart) Royal. Curt grew up traveling around Missouri and Illinois with his family doing labor work with his father. He met...

Oct 18, 2023

Patricia Ann Champine, age 96 of Sidnaw, MI passed away on Wednesday, October 18th, 2023 at U.P. Health System Marquette, MI. She was born May 18, 1927 in Flint, MI daughter to Carl and Della (Dunham) Anderson. Patricia graduated in 1945 from Trout Creek High School. She married Harold Champine in 1947 in Baraga County and they resided in Sidnaw,...

Oct 12, 2023

Philip Medlin, age 71, of L'Anse, Michigan passed away on Thursday, October 12th, 2023 at Bayside Village in L'Anse, MI. He was born November 4, 1951 in Rocky Mount, NC son of Auburn and Lucille (Driver) Medlin. Philip grew up and attended school in Rocky Mount. He married Trudy House on November 24, 1984 in Rocky Mount. Philip was...

Oct 6, 2023

Larry Dean Seratti, age 76, local businessman, passed away quietly October 6, 2023, at his home in Norway, MI. He was born April 28, 1947, in Baraga, MI son of Joseph "Jocko" and Eileen (Ross) Seratti. Larry graduated from Baraga High School in 1965 and attended Suomi College in Hancock. He was a member of the Baraga National Guard....

Sep 27, 2023

Leo Sam Durant Jr (Manny) ManidoMukwa (Spirit Bear), age 84 passed away September 27 at the home of his daughter, Amanda, in Milwaukee, WI after a courageous battle with cancer. Leo was born in Baraga Mi on March 16, 1939 to Leo Sam Durant Sr and Bertha Nedeau. He attended Baraga Area Schools later to receive a GED certificate....

Sep 19, 2023

Debra (Debbie) Lynn Heikkila, age 61, of Baraga, Michigan, passed away unexpectedly on Tuesday, September 19, 2023, at her home. She was born March 21, 1962, in Annapolis, Maryland, the daughter of Darwin and Donna (Paul) Heikkila. Debbie grew up in Baraga and lived in Orlando, Florida, for many years, where she worked for the U.S. Postal Service and...

Sep 14, 2023

Hugo Manuel Gordillo Gomez February 16, 1960 - September 14, 2023 Writer, journalist, human rights activist. Lover, husband, father, friend. Born in Guatemala City, Guatemala, Hugo Gordillo was raised by his grandmother, Doña Elvira Alvarado Velasquez, in the province of Retalhuleu. From 1980-2012, he worked as a journalist, focusing on human rights and social inequality, and received three UNICEF...

Sep 14, 2023

Robert Frances Vizina, age 65 of L'Anse, MI passed away unexpectedly on Thursday, September 14th, 2023 at his home. He was born August 21, 1958 in L'Anse, MI son of Raymond and Margaret (Selden) Vizina. Robert graduated from L'Anse High School in 1978. He married the former Sheri Rinkinen on August 5, 2016 in L'Anse. Robert worked at Commercial National...

Sep 13, 2023

Randall Wayne Lepola, age 64 of Covington, Michigan passed away unexpectedly on Wednesday, September 13th, 2023 at his home. He was born August 7th, 1959 in Detroit, MI son of Melvin and Jeanette (Norback) Lepola. Randall graduated from Wayne Memorial High School in 1977. He served in the U. S. Marines for four years. Randall worked for various businesses as...

Sep 9, 2023

Layla Marykay Klug of L'Anse, MI, daughter of Joshua Klug Jr. and Cheyenne LeMieux was born into the arms of God on September 9, 2023. It took Cheyenne and Josh 6 years to conceive Layla. She was heaven sent. From the moment Josh and Cheyenne had found out they were having a baby they were filled with excitement and...

Aug 24, 2023

Ellen Marie Stewart, a loving and creative soul, passed away unexpectedly from heart disease on August 24, 2023, in Berkley, Michigan. Born on March 10, 1948, in Hancock, Michigan, Ellen's life was marked by her friendly nature and a deep love for her family, friends, and pets. Ellen was a dedicated professional, working as an appraiser at Alexander Hamilton Insurance...

Aug 20, 2023

Catherine Marie Shepherd, age 61 of Baraga, MI passed away on Sunday, August 20th, 2023 at Mayo Clinic Hospital, St Mary's Campus, in Rochester, Minnesota. She was born October 13, 1961 in Chicago, IL daughter of Raymond and Patricia (Emery) Kemppainen. Catherine graduated from Kelvyn Park High School in 1979. She married Ambrose Shepherd on August 1, 1981 in Cameron,...

Aug 12, 2023

Gerald Earl Maki, age 86 of Elo, Michigan passed away on Saturday, August 12th, 2023 at Bayside Village in L'Anse, MI. He was born June 17, 1937 in Elo, MI son of Leonard and Sophie (Autio) Maki. He attended the John A. Doelle School and graduated in 1955. He was in the U. S. Army stationed in Germany until...

Aug 11, 2023

Darlene Marie Elmblad, age 76 of Skanee, MI passed away on Friday, August 11th, 2023 at Bayside Village in L'Anse, MI surrounded by her loving family, after a courageous battle with Alzheimer's. She was born October 27, 1946 in Houghton, MI daughter to Vivan and Joyce (Kunick) Witz. Darlene graduated from L'Anse High School in 1964. She married the love...

Jul 26, 2023

Anne Beatrice Lambert, age 76 of L'Anse, Michigan passed away on Wednesday, July 26th, 2023 at U. P. Health System, Marquette, MI. She was born October 17, 1946 in Hancock, MI daughter of Phillip and Beatrice (Bergerson) LaTendresse. Anne graduated from Baraga High School in 1964. On April 8, 1967 she married Keith Lambert. She then received a Bachelor...

Jun 29, 2023

Carrie Lou Thomas went home to be with her Lord and Savior on June 29th, 2023. She was born on April 13, 1942 to Harold and Lucille (Westerman) Juul in Waukegan, Illinois. She and her beloved husband, Larry R. Thomas (deceased 2008) moved to L'Anse, MI in 1975, when they bought the local Ford dealership. She and Larry had...

Jun 27, 2023

Allyson Emelia Cotter, age 13, of Nisula, Michigan, passed away on June 27th, 2023. She was born on April 7, 2010, in Hancock, MI. Allyson is survived by her father Matthew Cotter, mother Kristin (Juntunen) Kovach, stepfather Roger Kovach, brothers Joshua Cotter and Colton Kovach, and sisters Riley Kovach, Charlie Kovach, paternal grandfather Daniel Cotter, paternal grandmother Bonny Connor, maternal...

Jun 24, 2023

Kenneth Robert Janson, 71, of Pelkie, Michigan passed away peacefully at home with family by his side on Saturday, June 24th after a courageous battle with cancer. Ken was born on August 19th, 1951 in Menominee, Michigan to Howard and Luella (Sorenson) Janson. He graduated salutatorian from Menominee High School in 1969.

He attended Michigan Technological University...

Jun 14, 2023

Patricia Kay (Niemi) Karvonen, age 80 of Arnheim, MI passed away on June 14, 2023 at Baraga County Memorial Hospital. She was born on November 16, 1942 in Hancock, MI. She grew up in Askel, MI and graduated from the Doelle School in Tapiola. "Patsy" married Wayne Karvonen, Sr., son of Edwin and Martha (Partanen) Karvonen April 14, 1962. They...