Christopher Siegwart

Grand Marais

Christopher “Chris” Siegwart, age 82, of Grand Marais, died Sunday, February 22, 2026 at Schoolcraft County Medical Care Facility in Manistique, Michigan. He was born on April 17, 1943 in Midland, Michigan, the first of seven children of Frank and Vera (Farver) Siegwart. Chris graduated from Caseville High School in 1961. He married Janet Mills on July 25, 1964 and together they raised two children. Jan and Chris raised their family at Michigan State University family housing while Chris earned his bachelor’s degree in engineering and an MBA from MSU. Chris worked for a number of different companies over the years, and their family moved many times, but he spent quite a bit of time with Clark Forklift in Battle Creek before moving to the New England area and owned and operated Northeast Clarklift in Rhode Island. The family eventually moved back to Michigan and lived in the Holland area while Chris was in charge of large warehouse logistics and material handling. After retirement, Chris and Jan made Grand Marais their home. The two of them fell in love with the area when they came to Grand Marais on their honeymoon, then buying property over 40 years ago, and to move here permanently in 2009. Chris became active with the Coast Guard Auxiliary and was a volunteer for the ambulance and snowmobile rescue team in Burt Township. Chris loved the outdoors and hunting, fishing, and boating. When he was a teenager, Chris lived in Alaska for a short time and that was a place he loved to go back to visit on hunting, fishing, and camping adventures throughout his life.

He is survived by his wife of sixty-one years – Jan Siegwart of Grand Marais; children - Todd (Leslie) Siegwart of Excelsior, MN and Kim (Dave) Kocer of St. Paul, MN; grandchildren – Jack and Matthew Siegwart and Annabelle (Mason) and Drew Kocer; siblings – Katie, Sally (Dan), Jeffrey, Cindy, Susie (Ken), and Bart; and numerous nieces and nephews. Chris was preceded in death by his parents – Frank and Vera Siegwart and his stepmother Donna Siegwart.

A celebration of Chris’ life will take place on Saturday, May 2, 2026 at the First Lutheran Church in Grand Marais begining at 1:00 p.m. with visiting to follow. Interment will be at the Rose Hill Cemetery in Grand Marais at a later date. 

Memorials in Chris's name may be made to the Burt Township Emergency Services.