Misc Obituaries Baraga Co., MI 2001-2003 ************************************************************************ USGENWEB NOTICE: In keeping with our policy of providing free information on the Internet, material may be freely used by non-commercial entities, as long as this message remains on all copied material, AND permission is obtained from the contributor of the file. These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or presentation by other organizations. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material for non-commercial purposes, MUST obtain the written consent of the contributor, OR the legal representative of the submitter, and contact the listed USGenWeb archivist with proof of this consent. Submitted by Rose Edwards mailto:baragarose@up.net ************************************************************************ John "Jack" Edward Forcia, Jr. (26 May 1917 - 16 December 2002) L'ANSE John "Jack" Edward Forcia, Jr., 85, of Harrison, formerly of L'Anse, passed away Monday, December 16, 2002, at Tendercare Nursing Home in Clare, Mich. after a long battle with Alzheimers. John was born May 26, 1917 in Ashland, Wis., son of the late John Edward Forcia, Sr. and Ellen Hawkins. As an infant, John and his family moved to Assinins in Baraga Township. John served in the U.S. Army during WW II as a medic and attained the following service awards: The Good Conduct Medal, Purple Heart, Bronze Star, American Theatre Ribbon, Asiatic Pacific Theatre Service Medal, Philippine Liberation Ribbon with Bronze Star and Two Overseas Bars. John was employed by the Civil Conservation Corp locally. He retired as a log sawyer after 35 years in the logging and lumber industry. source: the Daily Mining Gazette, Houghton, MI --------------------------------------------------------- Daniel Frederick Gauthier (23 January 1963 - 15 September 2002) ZEBA Daniel Frederick Gauthier, 39, of Zeba, passed away on Sunday, September 15, 2002, at Baraga County Memorial Hospital. He was born January 23, 1963 in L Anse, son of Frederick Gauthier and Gwenneth (Emery) Loonsfoot. Danny attended L'Anse schools and was a lifelong resident of Zeba. He was a dedicated fisherman his whole life. He loved his kids and enjoyed taking them camping, hunting and fishing. Danny loved teaching and taught everyone how to drive. He was a member of the KBIC. Danny is survived by his mother, Gwenneth Loonsfoot of Zeba; father, Frederick Gauthier of Zeba; the mother of his children, Kelly Carlson of Baraga and their children, Jared Gauthier of Zeba, Jay and Jordanne Gauthier, both of Baraga; son, Derek Gauthier of Zeba; brother, Charlie Gauthier of Marquette; sisters, Dawn and Nicole Gauthier, both of Zeba; paternal grandmother, Myrtle Gauthier of Baraga; several nieces, nephews, aunts, uncles and cousins. He was preceded in death by a son, Daniel Frederick Gauthier, Jr. on July 30, 1989; and a brother, Frederick Paul Gauthier. The funeral mass will be held on Friday, September 20, at 11 a.m. at Most Holy Name of Jesus Church in Assinins. Visitation will be on Thursday from 6 to 8 p.m. and Friday an hour prior to the service, both at the church. Burial will be in the Assinins Cemetery. The Jacobson Funeral Home in L Anse is assisting the family. source: the Daily Mining Gazette, Houghton, MI ------------------------------------------------------------------ Lawrence E. "Ed" Miller (1 March 1933 - 27 April 2003) Lawrence E. "Ed" Miller, 70, of L'Anse, died on Sunday, April 27, 2003, at Bayside Village, L Anse, following a long illness. Funeral services for Miller will be held at 11:00 a.m. Thursday, May 1, 2003 at Zeba Indian United Methodist Church, Zeba. The Reid Funeral Service and Chapel, L'Anse is assisting the family with arrangements. Miller's source: L'Anse Sentinel Wednesday, April 30, 2003 Lawrence E. "Ed" Miller L ANSE Lawrence E. "Ed" Miller, 70, of L Anse, passed away Sunday, April 27, 2003, at Bayside Village, L'Anse, following a long illness. He was born March 1, 1933 in Zeba, son of the late Henry and Susan (Asher) Miller. Ed attended Zeba and L'Anse area schools. Mr. Miller, also affectionately known as "Hawk", was employed as an engineer and ironworker in the Portland, Ore. area. He was one of the steelworkers who helped construct the Space Needle structure. He married the former Glennamae McCoy in Portland. Following his retirement, Ed moved back to L'Anse where he started a custom upholstery business. He was proud of the fact that he was self-taught and had an immense pride in his creations. He touched the lives of everyone he met with his subtle sense of humor and had an uncommon wisdom which he shared with those who listened. He enjoyed taking long rides, telling jokes and helping people, and going junkin . Ed was a member of KBIC, Zeba Indian United Methodist Church and Local 516 of the Iron Workers of America. Mr. Miller is survived by his wife, Glennamae of Portland, Ore.; son, Christopher (Maggie) Anderson Miller of L Anse; daughters, Peggy Sue Miller of Portland, Ore., Sandra L. Miller of Milwaukee, Wis.; grandchildren, Christopher Anderson II "Little Hawk", and Sheila; stepchildren, Steven Anderson and Lynnette Bugg; step-granddaughter, Christine Glover; step-grandsons, David and Joseph Anderson and Jesse Dominic; brother, Ronald Miller of Milwaukee; sister, Ann Misegan of Zeba and Barbara Jean Knipp of L Anse. He was preceded in death by his sisters, Helen Lindahl; and two brothers, Howard and Earl Miller. Funeral services for Mr. Miller will be held at 11 a.m. Thursday, May 1, 2003 from Zeba Indian United Methodist Church in Zeba with Pastor David Snyder officiating. Interment will take place in the Pinery Cemetery. Family will receive friends Wednesday, April 30, 2003 from 6 until 8 p.m. at the Reid Funeral Service and Chapel, L Anse, and one hour prior to the service at the church on Thursday. source: the Daily Mining Gazette, Houghton, MI ----------------------------------------------------------------- Elizabeth Pelto ( 25 April 1907 - 13 August 2002) BARAGA Elizabeth "Grandma" Pelto, 95, of Baraga, passed away Tuesday, August 13, 2002, at Baraga County Memorial Hospital. She was born April 25, 1907 in Assinins, Mich., a daughter of Joseph and Esther (Papin) Kibsoden. Elizabeth married Waino Pelto on October 22, 1931 in L'Anse. She was a member of First Apostolic Lutheran Church in Calumet, VFW Ladies Auxiliary in L'Anse, KBIC and the Ojibwa Senior Citizens. Elizabeth served on the enrollment committee for the tribe and was instrumental in developing the Ojibwa Language Program in the schools. She was formerly honored as a KBIC Elder at a Pow Wow. Elizabeth enjoyed crocheting and rug making. She is survived by her children, Simon (Bernice) Stevens of Aberdeen, S.D., Essimae Stevens of Red Lake, Minn.; daughter-in-law, Gladys Stevens of Oneida, Wis.; special friend, Angel Wadaga; and numerous grandchildren; great-grandchildren; nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her husband, Waino; parents; foster parents, Charles and Frances Curtis; son, Edward Stevens; brother, Joseph Kibsoden; sisters, Susan Carlson, Lucy Jane Haataja, and Margaret Spruce. The funeral service will be held Friday, August 16, at 11 a.m. at the Jacobson Funeral Home. Visitations will be on Thursday from 5 to 8 p.m. and Friday an hour prior to the service, both at the funeral home. Rev. Richard Eskola will officiate. Burial will be in the Pelkie Cemetery. source: the Daily Mining Gazette, Houghton, MI --------------------------------------------------- Darlene Mae Ross ( - 13 April 2003) Darlene Mae Ross, 64, of Baraga, died suddenly Sunday, April 13, 2003, at Marquette General Hospital. Memorial services for Ross were held at 11 a.m. Thursday, April 17, 2003, at Holy Name of Jesus Church in Assinins with Father George Joseph officiating. Funeral arrangements have been entrusted to The Reid Funeral Service and Chapel, L'Anse. source: L'Anse Sentinel Wednesday, April 16, 2003 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Arvid V. Rasanen ( 13 July 1920 - 3 November 2002) BARAGA Arvid V. Rasanen, 82, of Baraga, passed away Sunday, November 3, 2002, at the D.J. Jacobetti Home for Veterans in Marquette where he had been a patient for several weeks. He was born in Baraga on July 13, 1920, son of the late Uno and Hilja (Sundquist) Rasanen. After graduating from Baraga High School, Arvid joined the U.S. Army in 1942 and served in the European Theater under Gen. George Patton until 1946. He married the former Loretta St. Arnold in Assinins in 1952. He was employed at the White Pine Copper Mine until his retirement in 1981. Arvid was a member of the Baraga American Legion Post 444, Baraga. Mr. Rasanen is survived by his loving wife, Loretta; sons, Carl (Julie) Rasanen of Baraga, James (Jodene) Rasanen of Baraga; daughters, Cheryl Pilato of Baraga, Nancy (Don) Honey of Long Island, N.Y.; nine grandchildren; brother, Edwin (MaryAnn) Rasanen of Clawson, Mich.; sisters, Elsie (Sam) Otto of Norfolk, Va., and Linda Nare of Chicago, Ill.; and numerous nieces and nephews also survive. He was preceded in death by two sisters. Funeral services for Mr. Rasanen will be held at 11 a.m. Wednesday, November 6, 2002, from the Reid Funeral Service and Chapel in L'Anse with Fr. Greg Heikkala officiating. Interment will take place in the Baraga Cemetery. The family will receive friends Tuesday, November 5, 2002, at the Reid Funeral Service and Chapel in L Anse from 6 to 9 p.m. and one hour prior to the service on Wednesday. The Baraga County Area Veterans under the direction of the Baraga American Legion Post 444 will conduct military honors at 7 p.m. Tuesday at the funeral chapel. Following the service on Wednesday, friends are invited to join the family for fellowship and luncheon at the Baraga American Legion Post 444 in Baraga. Funeral arrangements have been entrusted to the Reid Funeral Service and Chapel in L Anse. source: the Daily Mining Gazette, Houghton, MI ------------------------------------------------------------------ Donald R. Whetung (25 March 2003) Donald R. Whetung, 80, Green-leaf, died on Tuesday morning, March 25, 2003. The West Mason Malcore Funeral Home handled funeral arrangements. A service was conducted by Rev. Thomas Farrell. Burial was in Fort Howard Cemetery. In lieu of other expressions of sympathy a memorial fund has been established at the funeral home in his memory. Special thanks to the staff and nurses of San Luis Medical and Rehab. source: L'Anse Sentinel Wednesday, April 16, 2003 ------------------------------------------------------------------ Theodore Whetung (2 January 2003) L'ANSE Theodore Whetung, 81, of L Anse, passed away Friday, January 2, 2003, at the Jacobetti Home for Veterans in Marquette where he had been a resident for four years. He was born in Zeba on April 3, 1921, son of the late Joseph and Charlotte (Blaker) Whetung. He attended L'Anse Schools. In 1942, he was inducted into the U.S. Army and served until 1945. A decorated combat veteran, he served in the Normandy Ardennes Rhineland Invasion during WW II. He was a member of the 101st Airborne Division and received the Glider Badge following two successful jumps. He was a light mortar crewman and was wounded twice in battle and awarded the European African Theater Ribbon and two Bronze Battle Stars, Bronze Service Arrow Head and two Overseas Service Bars. In addition, he was awarded the Purple Heart Medal, Bronze Oakleaf Cluster and Bronze Star Medal. Following his discharge, Ted worked as a woodsman for the Sensenbrenner Logging Company. He was a member of the Zeba Indian United Methodist Church, Keweenaw Bay Indian Community, L'Anse American Legion Post 144 and the L Anse VFW Post 3897. Ted was an avid reader, and enjoyed hunting, fishing, walking and hiking. Mr. Whetung is survived by his brothers, Amos Whetung of Granite Falls, Wash., Donald Whetung of Green Bay, Wis., Matt Whetung of Zeba and Albert Mathews of Athelstane, Wis.; sisters, Myrtle Tolonen of L'Anse and Elizabeth Mathews of Zeba; and numerous nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his brother, Glen Mathews and his sister, Sarah Shalifoe. Funeral services for Mr. Whetung will be held at 11 a.m. Monday, January 6, 2003, from the Reid Funeral Service and Chapel, L'Anse with Pastor David Snyder officiating. Spring burial will take place in the Evergreen Cemetery, L'anse. The family will receive friends on Sunday, January 5, 2003, at the Reid Funeral Service and Chapel from 6 until 8 p.m. The Baraga county Area Veterans under the direction of the Baraga American Legion Post 444 will conduct military honors at 7 p.m. Sunday at the funeral chapel, followed by a traditional Native American Drum Ceremony led by spiritual guide Paul Halverson source: the Daily Mining Gazette, Houghton, MI ***************************************************************** USGENWEB ARCHIVES NOTICE: These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or presentation by any other organization or persons. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material, must obtain the written consent of the contributor, or the legal representative of the submitter, and contact the listed USGenWeb archivist with proof of this consent. *****************************************************************