Isadore John Reno, age 98, of 209 E. Onota Street, Munising, died on Thursday, August 3, 2006 at 2:40 a.m. at the Tendercare Health Center in Munising. Son of Gerald and Victoria (LaRose) Reno, he was born on July 23, 1908 in Garden, Michigan and lived there until he was seven. His father was a foreman in the Vans Harbor sawmill and at the age of thirteen Izzy started working in the woods cutting logs, driving tractors, and operating log loaders. In 1928 he came to Manistique and worked for Merritt-Chapman-Scott Corporation at Port Inland as a crane operator and mechanic. On December 29, 1930, Iz married Sarah Mary Longtine. They raised a family of six children. They were married over fifty-three years when Sarah preceded him in death on October 5, 1984. In 1931, Izzy started trucking through the U.P., Wisconsin, and Illinois. In 1941, he went to Camp McCoy, WI where he took a contracting job of hauling materials for the construction of the camp. In 1943, he sold all of his equipment and Iz went to work as a welder and crane operator at the Soo Locks for the Government. He worked in Detroit as a welder, dozer operator, and crane operator. He worked for Manistique Pulp & Paper Company as a welder and mechanic before beginning his employment with Kimberly Clark in 1953. Isadore retired from KC in 1971 as a millwright and welder. He enjoyed hunting, fishing, snowmobiling, and everyone who knew Izzy understood how much he loved cars.
He is survived by five children – Sarah (Ron) Pierson of Munising, Isadora “Dolly” (Hank) Peterson of Aurora, CO, John Reno of AuTrain, Donald “Duck” (Paulette) Reno of Christmas, and Isadore “Boy” Reno, Jr. of Antigo, WI; eleven grandchildren, numerous great-grandchildren, three-great-great grandchildren; brothers – Merton (Mildred) Reno and Percy Reno; sisters – Eunice Pallas and Jackie Tallman; and numerous nieces and nephews. Isadore was preceded in death by his parents, wife Sarah, their son Girard in September 1948, grandson Danny Peterson, brothers Tracford “Bud” and Vern Reno, and a sister Arithea Cousineau. Izzy’s visitation and funeral service will be held at the Bowerman Funeral Home on Saturday, August 5, 2006. Visitation will be from 12:00 noon until 1:30 p.m. Father Chris Gardiner will conduct his service in the funeral home’s chapel at 1:30 p.m. Interment will be at the Fairview Cemetery in Manistique, Michigan.
