Menominee County Journal Obituaries | Week of May 05, 2011
Florence Alswager
Florence I. Alswager, 99, Marinette, died April 27, 2011, at Bay Area Medical Center.
She was born Oct. 30, 1911, in Marinette to Andrew and Johanna Christiansen. Florence graduated from Marinette High School and spent her life in the Marinette area. She was a member of Our Savior's Lutheran Church and participated in various church activities. She loved her family. She loved music and playing the piano, cooking, the family dogs, shopping and life. Florence is survived by her two sons: Hal (Mary Anne), Neenah, WI and Milton (Marie), Menominee; a daughter, Renae (Mike) Alswager-Klein, Madison; also seven grandchildren; twelve great-grandchildren; one great-great-grandchild, nieces and nephews, many grandnieces and grand nephews. Florence was preceded in death by her parents; her husband Harold; twelve brothers and sisters; and a great-grandson, Jesse Alswager.
A memorial service was held May 2, 2011, at Our Savior's Lutheran Church in Marinette. The Rev. James Wendt officiated. A memorial fund has been established. Hansen-Onion-Martell funeral home assisted the family.
Frank Dempski
Frank J. Dempski, Jr., 84, Stephenson, died April 26, 2011, at home.
He was born Sept. 18, 1926, in North Chicago, IL to the late Frank Sr. and Eleanora (Monczynski) Dempski. Frank served in the U.S. Army during the Korean Era. On June 14, 2003, Frank married Colleen Lynch at Precious Blood Church. Frank worked for 30 years at Cyclone Fence, a division of U.S. Steel in North Chicago. Frank enjoyed hunting and fishing.
He is survived by his wife of Stephenson; three daughters: Christine South, Mary Kathleen Snell and Tammy Pogue; five grandchildren; two sisters; Joanne Boggs and Wanda (Dave) Lippert; one brother; Henry (Martha); three step-daughters, one step-son and five step-grandchildren.
Family and friends called at Anderson Diehm Funeral Home April 29, 2011. Military Rites and Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated at Precious Blood Catholic Church. Father Corey Litzner officiated. Burial was in Warren Cemetery, Gurnee, IL.
Susan Double
Susan L. (Ruleau) Double, died April 28, 2011, in Madison Heights, MI.
She was born in Daggett, July 4, 1950, to the late William and Margaret Ruleau. On Nov. 28, 1984, she married Guy Double in Hillsdale, MI.
She is survived by three brothers, Ron (Dawn) Ruleau, Menominee, Kennith Ruleau, Cedar River, and John (Debra) Ruleau, Cedar River; two sisters, Dawn (Robert) Fergerson, Foley, AL, Patty (William) Haley, Sterling Heights, MI; and one sister-in-law, Kathy Ruleau, Wallace; one granddaughter, nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her husband; two brothers, Richard, and Timothy; and one sister, Linda.
Arrangements are being made for burial in Cedar River Cemetery at a later date.
Margaret Jordan
Margaret B. (Bonnie) Jordan, 73, Wells, died April 25, 2011, at Marquette General Hospital.
Margaret was the daughter of the late Clarence and Florence Besaw and was born and raised in the Perkins area. She later moved to the Escanaba area where she graduated high school in 1957. Margaret lived in the Milwaukee area for 15 years, where she met and married the late Donald Jordan. After the death of her husband, she returned to the Escanaba area with her children. She was employed at Tommy's Restaurant while in high school and after returning to Escanaba. She was a member of St. Thomas Catholic Church in Escanaba. Margaret enjoyed bingo, knitting, crocheting and playing cards.
She is survived by her four children, Joe Besaw, Wells, Terry Neisius, Stephenson, Steve (Catherine) Jordan, Plymouth, WI, and Desiree (Don) Tirapelli, Bark River, six grandchildren; a sister, Donna Tyynela, Rock, nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband; three brothers, Art Besaw, Ted Besaw and Robert Besaw; and one sister, Mary Krusic.
Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated April 30, at St. Thomas The Apostle Church with Rev. Emmett Norden officiating. Burial was in Perkins Cemetery. The Crawford Funeral Homes assisted the family.
Robert Miron
Robert Joseph Miron, 84, Hermansville, died April 22, 2011, at the Dickinson Medical Center, Iron Mountain.
Robert was born Oct. 22, 1926, to Joseph and Inez (Osier) Miron in Perkins. He served in the U.S. Army during WWII with the 242nd Infantry Battalion in Germany and Austria from 1946-1949. From 1950-1951 he served in Korea with the 304th Signal Battalion HQCO. After he returned from Korea he married Betty Beauchamp in 1951. He lived and worked in Milwaukee until moving to Powers in 1972. After Betty died in 1999, he married Mary Fiers in 2003. He enjoyed painting and woodworking. He is survived by wife, Mary; two daughters, Bonnie (Dale) LaPalme, Hermansville, Connie (Robert) Musser, Ionia, MI; three step-sons, Lance (Tammy) Yunk, Palmer, Mike Yunk, Gwinn, Ken (Theresa) Yunk Ishpeming; three sisters, Rita Gudwer, Carol Parrett, and Ellenore Sorenson, 17 grandchildren, 16 great-grandchildren, one great-great-grandson, 42 nieces and nephews, and great- and great-great-nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his first wife, Betty; mother and father; brothers, Donald, Arnold and John; sisters, Grace, Norma, June and Beatrice; niece, Barbara; nephews, Ricky and Willy; and five great-nephews.
Family and friends called at St. John Neumann Catholic Church, Spalding. Mass of Christian Burial services were held April 29 at the church with Rev. Fr. Michael T. Vichich officiating. Burial was at the Lakeview Cemetery, Escanaba. The Skradski Family Funeral Homes in Escanaba and Gladstone assisted the family. Visit www.skradski-boycefuneralhomes.com to express sympathy.
John Nemetz
John W. (Bill) Nemetz, 85, Menominee, died April 28, 2011, at Bay Area Medical Center.
He was born Feb. 23, 1926, in Menominee, to John Martin Nemetz and Catherine (Sladky) Nemetz. Bill spent most of his life in Menominee and was a 1944 graduate of Menominee High School. He entered the United States Navy upon graduation and served in the remaining years of WWII. He returned to Menominee after military service. He married Beatrice Paris at Sacred Heart Church in Marinette April 3, 1948. Bill first worked at the former Thompson Bakery and was later employed by The Ansul Company until his retirement. He maintained a keen interest in sports, en joyed playing golf and was an avid Green Bay Packer fan.
He is survived by his wife; two children, Jon J. (Mary) Nemetz, Lake Gogebic, MI, and Judy (Rick) Wachal, De Pere, WI, and four grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents; an infant son, Jeffrey Michael; a brother, Joseph (Sylvia) Pivonka; and a sister, Anna (Hector) Breault.
Friends called at Holy Spirit Church, Menominee, where funeral Mass was offered May 2 by Father Michael Chenier. Burial was in Riverside Cemetery, Menominee, with military honors. Hansen Onion Martell Funeral Home served the family.
Dorothy Raspor
Dorothy Marie Raspor, 90, Kipling, died April 21, 2011, at the Pinecrest Medical Care Facility, Powers. She previously resided at Northwoods Assisted Living in Escanaba.
Dorothy, the daughter of Albert and Irene (Caldwell) Gagnon, was born July 19, 1920, in Gladstone. She was raised on the family farm in Flat Rock and attended the All Saints Catholic School. Dorothy was united in marriage to Joseph Raspor Aug. 21, 1944, at All Saints Church in Gladstone. They made their home in Kipling where they raised their four children. Dorothy was a life-long member of the All Saints Church and volunteered at the church nursery; she held membership with the National Catholic Society of Foresters. In addition, she was active in 4-H and was a 4-H leader. Dorothy did sewing alterations for Gartner's Ladies Apparel. Her greatest joy was being with her family, and their trips in their truck camper and at their camp in Maywood Shores on the Stonington Peninsula. Her hobbies included gardening, reading, knitting, crocheting and sewing.
She is survived by her son, Ronald J. (Anna) Raspor, Gladstone; daughters, Joyce A. Richel, Anchorage, AK, Mary Jo Childers, Somerset, KY, and Lynn M. (John) Anderson, Powers; brothers, Marvin Gagnon, Gladstone, and Melvin (Aileen) Gagnon, Kipling; sisters, Beverly Raspor, Stonington, Katherine Marshall, Federal Way, WA, and Elaine (Robert) Pepin, Flat Rock; half brother and sister, John Caldwell, Gladstone, and Mary Jane Brunette, Milwaukee; seven grandchildren, 12 great-grandchildren, four great-grandchildren, numerous nieces and nephews. In addition to her parents; she was preceded in death by her husband in 1980; brothers, Robert James, Robert Lee, Albert Jr., and Richard; and her son-in-law, Kelly Childers.
Friends called at the Skradski Funeral Home in Gladstone. Mass of Christian Burial was held April 27 at All Saints Church in Gladstone with Rev. Fr. Arnold Grambow officiating. Burial was in Fernwood Cemetery, Gladstone.
Frank Vallie
Frank L. Vallie, 75, Stephenson, died April 30, 2011, at the Clement J. Zablocki, VA Medical Center, Milwaukee.
Frank was born Oct. 15, 1935, in Ida, MI, to the late Elius and Gizella (Kovatch) Vallie. He served in the United States Air Force from June 16, 1953, until being honorably discharged June 15, 1957. On Aug. 27, 1966, he married Phyllis Butler in Tecumseh, MI. Frank was a self employed brick mason who did a lot of work in the mid-county area. He enjoyed working, bird watching and spending time with his grandchildren.
He is survived by his wife of Stephenson; two daughters, Paula Vallie, Daggett, and Pamela Hansen, Clayton, OH; two sons, Frank (Cheryl), San Antonio, TX, and Joseph of Marshfield, WI, seven grandchildren and four great-grandchildren; sister, Rosella Curtis, Lupton, MI, and half sister, Becky Ramage, Somerset, KY. He was preceded in death by his son, Phillip; two brothers, Richard and James; sister, Dorothy Rojem.
Visitation will be held May 5 at Anderson Diehm Funeral Home, Stephenson, after 3 p.m. with military rites at 5:45 p.m. followed by Memorial Service. Reverend Jim Mathews will officiate. Inturnment will be in Ridgeway Cemetery, Ridgeway, MI.
Colonel Everett Yoap
Colonel Everett Leonard Yoap, 69, well known auctioneer of Pound, died April 26, 2011, at home.
The son of Leonard E. and Luella E. (Polzin) Everett was born June 20, 1941, at Marinette. He was a 1959 graduate of Coleman High School and also a graduate of Reisch Auctioneer School at Mason City, IA. He married Jaci J. Peterson, June 24, 1961, at Peshtigo United Methodist Church. He was an auctioneer and real estate broker for 51 years. He received the most prestigious award from the Lions Club in the Melvin Jones Award. Everett was a member of the National and State Auctioneer Associations. He was involved in various benefit auctions including the County Fair Youth auctions and wildlife groups and the National FFA Alumni auctions. He was a board of di rector for the Community Bank of Oconto County and was a member of the Peshtigo United Methodist Church. Everett traveled around the world. He en joyed his family, especially his grandchildren and his Dalmatians.
He is survived by his wife; four children, Julie (Russell) Thoune, Peshtigo, Pastor Henry (Rebecca) Yoap, Pound, Leonard (Debbie) Yoap, Peshtigo, and Joanne Yoap, Coleman; one sister, Janice (Robert) Dettman, Pulaski, 13 grandchildren, four step-grandchildren, and two step-great-grandchildren, nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends. He was preceded in death by his parents.
Funeral services were held April 29 at Peshtigo United Methodist Church, Peshtigo. Rev. Warren Waddell and his son, Rev. Henry Yoap officiated with the burial in Riverside Cemetery, Peshtigo. Pallbearers were Jacob Dembroski, Everett Yoap II, Alex Yoap, Joey and Jody Styczynski, Nathan Yoap and Joel Dale. Rhodes Charapata Funeral Home assisted the family.