Obituaries

Sep 5, 2021

Gwinn / Munising

Michael Peramaki, age 77, of Gwinn and formerly of Munising, died following a lengthy illness on Sunday, September 5, 2021, at UPHS Marquette.  On February 24, 1944, he was born in Newberry, Michigan, to Reino and Bertha (Mattson) Peramaki.  Mike grew up in Munising, in the West End.  While still an infant, in 1944,...

Sep 5, 2021

Robert Kingsley Case, age 72, of Munising, died following a two year illness late Sunday morning, September 5, 2021 with Liz by his side at Munising Memorial Hospital.  Bob was born on April 25, 1949 in Ann Arbor, Michigan to Gene and Shirley (Fitzgerald) Case.  He grew up in Ensign Township and graduated from Rapid River High School in...

Sep 2, 2021

Regina was born June 4, 1937 in Munising, MI to Mary and John Peterson.  She died on September 2, 2021 at 1040 am in Petoskey at McLaren hospital after a long, complicated illness surrounded by her children.  She grew up in Grand Marais, MI and graduated as Valedictorian of her class in 1955.  She then attended Mercy Central School...

Sep 1, 2021

Anthony James “Tony” Drake, age 80, of AuTrain, died following a brief illness on Wednesday evening, September 1, 2021 at his home under the loving care of his family and North Woods Hospice.  He was born in Munising on July 2, 1941 to Earl and Ruth (St. Peter) Drake.  Tony grew up in Munising and at the age of...

Aug 24, 2021

Thomas Leonard Szafran, of AuTrain passed away Tuesday, August 24, 2021 in Seney, Michigan at the age of 62.  He was born on September 28, 1958 in Detroit, Michigan to the late Leonard Szafran and Helen “Dolly” Szafran.  Tom grew up in Detroit and graduated from Denby High School.  Before owning his own business, Tom was a devoted employee...

Aug 22, 2021

Charles William Mazzali, age 92, of Munising, died Sunday, August 22, 2021 at the D.J. Jacobetti Home for Veterans in Marquette.  He was born on January 5, 1929 in Munising to William and Alice (Bowerman) Mazzali.  Charlie graduated from Wm. G. Mather High School and then worked on the ore boats on the Great Lakes.  Charlie served in the...

Aug 17, 2021

Molly B. Zalanskas, age 71, of Wetmore, died early Tuesday morning, August 17, 2021 in Rochester, Minnesota following a lengthy illness.  Molly was born in Escanaba on June 1, 1950 in to the loving family of David and Esther (Belfry) Flynn.  As a young girl, the Flynn family moved to Munising and Molly graduated from Sacred Heart School and...

Aug 15, 2021

Roberta L. “Bobbie” Trombly, age 50, of Munising and formerly of Newberry and Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan, died Sunday, August 15, 2021, at Medilodge of Munising.  She was born on February 28, 1971, in Manistique, Michigan to Edwin and Arbutus (Brown) Trombly.  Bobbie graduated from Newberry High School in 1989.  She worked for many years as a cook at...

Aug 10, 2021

Thomas F. Benchina, Sr., age 75, of Shingleton, died peacefully in his sleep at his home on Tuesday morning, August 10, 2021 following a brief illness.  He was born on August 7, 1946 to Frank and Josephine (Jerry) Benchina.  Tom grew up in Shingleton and attended elementary school there.  He graduated from Wm. G. Mather High School in Munising...

Aug 9, 2021

Rita (Kotajarvi) Patten, 75, of Gladstone and formerly of Munising passed away at U.P. Health Systems Marquette on Monday afternoon, August 9, 2021. The second of two daughters, she was born in Detroit, MI, to August and Emma Kotajarvi. Rita graduated from Southfield High School in 1964, and then worked at Michigan Bell in Detroit from 1964 until she...

Aug 4, 2021

On August 4, 2021, Teresa May (Watson) Mekelburg passed away in Harrisonville, Missouri after a long bout with cancer.  She was born on September 6, 1963 in Munising, Michigan to Cecil and Constance (Courter) Watson.  Teresa graduated from Munising High school in 1981.  She was known of her love of animals and her zest of life.  Teresa had many...

Aug 3, 2021

Munising

Sara Ann Caldwell, age 43, of Munising died unexpectedly, Tuesday, August 3, 2021 in Gwinn, Michigan following a year long illness.  She was born on June 23, 1978 in L’Anse, Michigan.  Sara’s family moved to Munising at a young age.  She enjoyed camping and loved music.  Sara had a great voice and would sing along to...

Jul 30, 2021

Willard (Will) John Cox, 58, passed away on Friday, July 30th, 2021 after a long battle with Liver failure. Will was born on May 13th, 1963, in Frankfort, Michigan, to Willard Russell Cox and Rosemary Ruth Spafford (Cox). Will eventually would move to Chatham, Michigan in the Upper Peninsula with his parents at the age of six.  Will was...

Jul 30, 2021

Hardin, MT / Munising, MI

Alesia Compton, age 57, of Hardin, Montana and formerly of Munising passed away unexpectedly at her home in Hardin on July 30, 2021.  She attended Wm. G. Mather High School.  Alesia worked many different jobs and was a manager at IGA.  She loved many things: Christmas lights, pictures of sunsets, celebrating holidays,...

Jul 26, 2021

Russel H. Smith, Jr., age 77, of Steuben, passed away into the arms of his Lord and Savior on Monday afternoon, July 26, 2021 at the Trillium House in Marquette.  He was born on February 6, 1944 in Kalamazoo, Michigan to Russell and May (Damery) Smith, Sr.   Russ grew up in Kalamazoo and graduated from Loy Norrix High School...

Jul 25, 2021

David James Ward, age 73, a resident of Munising and Elk Mound, Wisconsin passed away suddenly on the Lord’s Day, Sunday, July 25, 2021 at the cabin he built twenty-six years ago on Lost Lake.

Dave was born on October 23, 1947 in Marquette, Michigan. He graduated from Wm G. Mather High School in...