All Obituaries

Leslie “Les” Nyle Mattonen, Jr., age 67, of Gladstone, passed away peacefully Sunday morning, January 17, 2021 at his home due to surgery complications. He was born on January 12, 1954 in Escanaba, MI, the son of Leslie N. Sr., and Bernice (Wallin) Mattonen. At a young age, his family moved to Illinois where he grew up and graduated from Zion Benton Township High School in 1972. Following graduation, Les went on to attend Electrical Journeyman School for 4 years. Les married the...

On Saturday January 16, 2021, after a wonderful 98 ½ years our beloved mother, Geraldine Hirn Mitchell Belland, very peacefully passed away with all of her children around her. This is 44 years to the day after her husband, Robert, passed. We think this is a beautiful connection to our father. She was born June 25, 1922 to Dr. Frederick J. and Olive (Arnold) Hirn at St. Francis Hospital in Escanaba. She attended St. Joseph Catholic School and graduated from Escanaba High School in...

John Joseph “Gary” Dagenais, age 79, of Bark River, passed away unexpectedly, yet peacefully, at the family farm in Alva, FL. He was seated with his son-in-law, Rob, whom was his best buddy, and a group of close friends, enjoying conversation in the Florida sunshine. In the blink of an eye, he left this world to go home to reunite with his son and grandson. Gary was born to Phoebe and Elmer Dagenais at home in Escanaba, MI. The physician whom delivered Gary left the family home...

Ruth Joyce Blake, age 89, of Hyde, passed away Thursday evening, January 14, 2021 at Murray’s Country View Adult Foster Care Home in Gladstone. She was born on December 24, 1931 in Gladstone, the daughter of Charles Fredrick and Ida May (Burdick) Erfourth. Ruth was raised and attended school in Gladstone and was a graduate of Gladstone High School. Following graduation, she worked at the Dime Store in Escanaba for a few years. The former Ruth J. Erfourth married James O. Blake on...

Nancy K. Norberg, age 64, of Escanaba, passed away Monday evening, January 11, 2021 at OSF St. Francis Hospital in Escanaba. She was born on February 2, 1956 in Escanaba, the daughter of Francis Emmett and Ethel Gay (Grenfell) Viau. Nancy was raised and attended school in Escanaba and was a graduate of Escanaba High School. Following graduation, she enlisted in the U.S. Navy where worked as an air traffic controller until she was honorably discharged. Nancy later moved to Alexandria, LA and...

Joyce Elaine Kuehl, 83, passed away with her family at her side at St. Vincent Hospital in Green Bay, WI on Monday, January 11, 2021 following complications of a stroke. Joyce was born in Brampton, Ml on November 28th, 1937 to Walter and Ruth (Lundstrom) Listle. She grew up in the Flat Rock, Gross Area. She moved to Escanaba, Ml where she was united in marriage to Harold "Geno" Kuehl in 1959. They then moved to the Gross area where she was a homemaker, and she raised her children....

Dean K. Preaseau, age 80, of Escanaba, passed away Saturday, January 9, 2021 at Helping Hands Adult Foster Care Home in Escanaba and will rest in peace with his beloved parents. He was born on July 7, 1940 in Escanaba, the son of Lionel Vern and Eileen Stella (Sorby) Preaseau. Dean was raised and attended school in Escanaba and was a graduate of Escanaba High School. Throughout his life, Dean was a self-employed landlord of several houses in the area for many years. He also took great care...

Alice Mae (Whybrew) Lundberg, 84, passed away peacefully at home after a long courageous battle with Rheumatoid Arthritis on January 7, 2021. She was born December 26, 1936 to Albert and Genevieve Whybrew.  She grew up on the family farm in the North Delta area. Alice attended and graduated from Rapid River High School.     She met her future husband, Frank, while exhibiting their 4-H calves at the U.P. State Fair.  A few years later, Alice married Frank on...

Joseph “Joe” Francis Pryal, Jr., age 69, of Escanaba, passed away Wednesday morning, January 6, 2021 at his home. He was born on October 15, 1951 in Escanaba, the son of Joseph Francis, Sr. and Elaine (Grager) Pryal. Joe was raised in Escanaba and was a 1968 graduate of Escanaba High School. Following graduation, Joe enlisted in the U.S. Navy and served his country for 23 years until his was honorably discharged and retired as Chief Petty Officer in 1993. In 1995, Joe moved back...

Ruth Sinks Dubbelde, of Escanaba, passed away on January 4, 2020 on the morning of her 95th birthday. Ruth was born on a farm on the banks of the Mississippi River in Cache, Illinois to Gussie Lelle (Davis) and William Arthur Sinks. She graduated from Cairo High School and the University of Illinois, earning a business degree in Commerce and Marketing. While at the University, she met Hank Dubbelde in a business class and lent him one of her books. That was the beginning of their love...