Obituaries

Leslie Edward Niemi was born on February 25, 1931, in Munising, Michigan to Edward and Pearl Niemi. He passed away on January 22, 2024, in Lake Havasu City, Arizona. Les always felt fortunate to have grown up in the Chatham-Eben area. He thought it was the most wonderful place to be. He graduated from Eben High School in 1949 where he played basketball and ran the high hurdles in track. We have all heard his accounts of these events. In September of 1949, he enrolled at Suomi College (more recently known as Finlandia University) and continued his education at the Suomi Seminary. Les played basketball while at Suomi College and set several scoring records. He also studied at Northern Michigan University and at Northwestern in Evanston, Illinois.

Rev. Christina “Tina”Robb, age 71, quietly passed away at 3:30pm on Friday, April 26, 2024, at the MediLodge Nursing Center of Munising. She had resided at MediLodge with her husband Jim by her side since May of 2023. Tina is now pain free and in the arms of Jesus at peace.

Richard David “Dave” Erickson, age 81, of Munising, died April 19, 2024, at his winter home in Dade City, Florida. He was born on June 9, 1942, in Munising to the late Richard T. and Lucille (Passinault) Erickson. Dave graduated from William G. Mather High School in 1960. He moved to Milwaukee, WI, and worked for Controls Company of America in manufacturing. This is where he met Mary Helen Young. They were married May 22, 1965, and soon after moved to Lower Michigan where he worked for Canteen as a vendor in GM’s Pontiac plant before moving back to the Munising area to raise their three children. Dave worked at the Clevland Cliffs Iron Company and was later hired at Kimberly Clark and worked in the lab there until he retired in 1997. Dave enjoyed ice fishing, four-wheeling, helping family, cooking, baking, deer hunting, and spending time at his property on the 440. He also enjoyed playing games with his extended family and friends. He was a member of the Sacred Heart Church, Knights of Columbus, and Munising Moose Lodge.

Merle “Buzz” D. Karr, age 70, of Munising died on Thursday, April 25, 2024 at Munising Memorial Hospital. He was born on August 2, 1953, the sixth of eight children to Merle F. and Dorothy (McNally) Karr. In his youth, Buzz played Little League and participated in wrestling. At an early age, he found his love for the woods and spent the rest of his life hunting and fishing whenever he could. Merle graduated from Wm. G. Mather High School in 1972. He worked at several different places. Merle worked construction with VanEss on the pipeline, logging in the woods with his brother-inlaw Pete, Timber Products, with Uncle Arvo at Miller Tool & Die where he mastered his sharpening skills, the DePere foundry where he made a giant cast iron pot that family still uses today for large gatherings, and he spent over thirty years alongside his best friend, Greg Anderson, and his wife, Mary Ann, with Anderson Landscaping. Merle married Kelly Anderson, and together they raised their son, Merle J. Karr. Buzz enjoyed working on snowmobiles with his cousin, Kenny McNally and racing sleds in his younger years. Merle shot bows competitively and was UP Champion in Class B Archery multiple years. He married Sheila (Terry) Enterline on July 1, 2015. She preceded him in death on July 13, 2023. Merle was a member of the Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians.

John K. Shaffstall, passed away on December 6, 2023. Loving father of John (Kelsey) Shaffstall, William Shaffstall II, and Hannah (Peter) Domanski. Proud grandfather of Suzette and Alice Mary Shaffstall. Dear brother to the late Marilyn Shaffstall, William (Ronalda) Shaffstall, Diane (the late Gary) Virta, Allie Mary (Bob) Gariepy, Amy (John) Hillier. Cherished son of the late William and Suzette Shaffstall, nephew of the late Alice Mary Scholtes, and son-in-law of the late Henry Ricken. Dear friend and former husband of Ann M. Shaffstall.