All Obituaries

Thor O. Tornberg, 72, of Ishpeming, died Friday morning, September 22, 2023, at his home, following an illness.  He was born December 7, 1950, in Ishpeming, a son of the late John and Effie (Kangas) Tornberg.  He was a 1969 graduate of Ishpeming High School and a lifelong area resident. Thor married Susan Junttila in Ishpeming on September 13, 1969. He was employed as a welder and a roofer for several construction companies over the years.  His interests included hunting,...

Brian Jon Pickett made his final Irish goodbye on July 16, 2023. He was born with perfect teeth and perfect feet in Highland Park, Michigan in 1954, and raised in Waterford, Michigan. As an adult he had the strength of 10 men, the eyes of a hawk, and the reflexes of a cat. He served four years in the U.S. Navy without ever setting foot on a boat, yet sent coconuts home to family. He parlayed his skills as a radio technician into broadcasting, and then to information technology, serving as a...

Edward James Lundin, 87, long-time Ishpeming resident, passed away peacefully due to kidney failure on Tuesday, December 20, 2022 at the Marquette County Medical Care Facility with his loving wife at his side and under the care of UP Home Health and Hospice.   Ed was born on June 13, 1935 in Big Bay, MI where his father was an officer for Civilian Conservation Corps at Camp Big Bay.  He was a son of Clarence M. and Helen (Jeffery) Lundin.   Ed served his country in the US...

Lorraine A. Parker, 58, of Ishpeming, died Friday afternoon, April 14, 2023, at UP Health System-Marquette following an illness. She was born July 22, 1964, in Manistique, MI, a daughter of Moses and Marion (Andersen) Sanville and graduated from Munising High School. She is survived by her husband, Kevin A. Parker, whom she married in 1993 at St. Louis the King Catholic Church in Harvey; a son, Alan Swenor of Marquette; father & mother-in-law, Doug and Carol Holma of Watton; four...

William Louis Ottmann, Jr. passed away on February 28, 2023 at the Mission Point Nursing Facility in Ishpeming.   Bill was born in Ishpeming on April 7, 1935, to William and Marguerite (Tatrault). He graduated from IHS in 1953, served in the US Army (1958-60), Coast Guard, and Merchant Marines, and subsequently worked on the iron ore boats, where he occasionally navigated iron ore freighters in Great Lakes’ harbors. That distinction earned Bill the good-natured nickname...

The fourth and last born child of Henry and Lillian (Lind) Oskierko, Harriet Nowell of Ishpeming and recently Negaunee passed away on Wednesday, February 15, 2023, to be reunited with her husband of 53 years (Kenneth), her parents and three siblings, Edward Oskierko, Mary Jane Doubek and LaVerne Glassner, just shy of her 99th birthday. Born February 22, 1924, Harriet attended Chicago schools, graduating from Bowen High in 1942.  She met and married Ken in 1951 in Chicago where he...

Laila J. Maze, 96, of Republic, passed away on Sunday, January 22, 2023.  She was surrounded by her loving daughters and under the care of Lake Superior Life Care & Hospice and the staff of Teal Lake Assisted Living.   She was born in Humboldt, MI, a daughter of the late Victor and Maria (Plukka) Mustamaa and had resided in the area for most of her life.   Laila was a “Rosie the Riveter” working as a machine operator for Briggs Manufacturing in Detroit...

Pauline A. Cook, 94, of Champion, passed away in her sleep on Wednesday morning, January 4, 2023 at Marquette County Medical Care Facility in Ishpeming after a long battle with Dementia.   Pauline was born on May 15, 1928 in Flint, MI to the late Andrew and Bertha (Brooks) Rising. At a young age she moved to Prudenville, MI where she was a 1946 graduate of Houghton Lake High School. Here she met her husband, Robert E. Cook and they were married February 7, 1948.   Pauline...

Wayne H. “Dutch” Weidlich, 79, of Negaunee Township, passed away on December 18, 2022 in Park Ridge, IL with family by his side. Wayne was born on June 12, 1943 in Springfield, MA to Henry and Mildred (Winquist) Weidlich. He soon acquired his lifelong nickname “Dutch” as he resembled the boy on the Dutch Boy Paint logo. Dutch’s deep connection to the natural world began during his childhood where he spent much of his time working alongside his father, Henry,...

Paul Curtis “Duck” Derocha, 65, of Ishpeming, passed away on Monday, November 14, 2022 at Marquette County Medical Care Facility in Ishpeming. Duck was born on May 11, 1957 in Ishpeming, a son of the late William and Clementine (Revedo) Derocha and was a lifelong U.P. resident.  He was a 1975 graduate of Ishpeming High School and then attended Michigan Tech University.  Duck worked in the family restaurant business for many years.  He later moved to Pelkie where...