Wakefield, MI

By JASON JUNO sports@yourdailyglobe.com WAKEFIELD — This is a tough time for Gogebic to face what is likely the most difficult part of its schedule. The Miners are adjusting to a different roster than last year’s playoff team. They had to replace several standouts, including the entire offensive line, and they are without several players to start the season, including All-U.P. Dream Team quarterba...

SUPERIOR, Wis. - Edward Benton Drier, 75, of Hayward, Wisconsin, passed away peacefully on Thursday, Aug. 13, 2026, at Dove Health Care in Superior, Wisconsin, after battling dementia with strength and grace. He was born on June 13, 1951, in Bessemer Township, Michigan, the son of Fred and Sophie (Petroff) Drier. Ed was a 1969 graduate of Wakefield High School and went on to earn a degree in...

MINNETONKA, Minn. - Janet "Jan" Corrine Brown (née Hanson), 92, of Minnetonka, passed peacefully in her sleep on Friday, Aug. 21, 2026. Jan was born on July 21, 1934, in Wakefield, Michigan. She grew up with seven siblings. Her family later moved to Ironwood, Michigan, where she attended and graduated in 1952 from Luther L. Wright High School. She was very active in musical theater and c...

BESSEMER, Mich. - Betty J. Wiemeri, 98, of Bessemer, formerly of Ironwood Township, died peacefully Sunday afternoon, Aug. 30, 2026, at Gogebic Medical Care Facility in Wakefield, after a brief illness. The former Betty Dorpat was born on April 1, 1928, in Rhinelander, Wisconsin, a daughter of Frederick and Gladys (Carlson) Dorpat. As a child, she lived between Ironwood and Milwaukee. Betty...

IRONWOOD, Mich. – Helen A. Finco, 89, of Ironwood, passed away on Saturday, Aug. 22, 2026, at Villa Maria Health and Rehabilitation Center in Hurley, Wisconsin. A complete obituary will be published at a later date. Jerald Rocco, owner and manager of Lakeside Memorial Chapel Inc., in Wakefield, is assisting the family with arrangements. Condolences may be expressed online at lakesidememorialchapel...

APPLETON, Wis. — Donald “Don” Aho, 76, passed away peacefully on Aug. 17, 2026. He was born on Sept. 3, 1949, to Edwin and Katherine (Bessonen) Aho in Laurium, Michigan. Don graduated from Wakefield High School and then received a business degree from Northland College, where he played football. He later earned a Master of Business Administration. His athletic ability and love of football led to o...

WAKEFIELD, Mich. - James Farrell "Jim" Gembolis, 71, a long-time resident of Wakefield, died peacefully at his home on Sunday, Aug. 16, 2026. Jim was born on Oct. 11, 1954, in Wakefield, a son of Joseph D. and Dorothy E. (Zuidmulder) Gembolis. He attended Wakefield High School, graduating in 1972, and then earned his Bachelor of Science in Forestry from Michigan Technological...

ROCHESTER HILLS, Mich. - Jean H. Rautiola, 88, of Rochester Hills, formerly of Wakefield, Michigan, passed away peacefully. Jean was born on Jan. 9, 1938, to Tyne and Toivo Keto, and born into eternal life on Aug. 10, 2026. Jean was the loving wife of the late Wesley (2018) for 61 years; cherished mother of Craig (Virginia) Rautiola, Carrie (Chuck) Carson and John (Linda) Rautiola; mother of...

GOGEBIC COUNTY — A member of the Keweenaw Bay Indian Community (KBIC) has organized a sit-in encampment next to the proposed Copperwood Mine project site, in Gogebic County. The protest was expected to start Friday at 3 p.m. near the North Country Trail parking lot, 20 minutes north of Wakefield on County Road 519 and […]

WAKEFIELD, Mich. — Several tribal nations have organized an encampment to raise awareness regarding the proposed Copperwood Mine project near the North Country Trail and the Porcupine Mountains. The encampment, Animikiiwadiswan (Thunderbird Nest), is being established on Ottawa National Forest land just west of the North Country Trail parking lot, located about 20 minutes north […]