Verne M. Niemi

HURLEY, Wis. - Verne M. Niemi, 91, of Kimball, died peacefully Tuesday, Aug. 4, 2015, at Villa Maria Health and Rehabilitation Center in Hurley, with his loving family by his side.

He was born March 22, 1924, in Calumet, Mich., son of the late Matt and Lydia (Pyala) Niemi, and attended school there. He worked in Calumet mines prior to entering the U.S. Army and serving in the European Theater of Operations in Belgium during World War II. Following his honorable discharge, he worked in quality control for the Burroughs Corporation in Detroit for 19 ½ years, then was employed as a custodian for the Garden City School District. Moving to Hurley in 1972, he worked at the Kimball Mobile Home Factory and at Ironwood Products until his retirement.

Verne was a member of Mercier-Kero Saxon American Legion Post 371. He was an excellent hockey player in his younger years and was a big Red Wings fan. A talented craftsman, he loved doing handyman/carpenter projects and working around the house.

He was married to Sylvia Anderson in 1954. She preceded him in death in 1986.

He then was married to Beatrice Peite Lahti on July 3, 1992, at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in Kimball. She survives.

Also surviving are two sons, Kevin, Hallandale Beach, Fla., and Carl (Colleen), Hurley; two stepdaughters, Linda (Dale) Smith, Post Falls, Idaho, and Kathy (Sam) Davis, Mullan, Idaho; five grandchildren; four stepgrandchildren; 10 stepgreat-grandchildren; two brothers, Milton (Catherine) and Douglas, both of Calumet; sisters-in-law, Lillian Niemi, Plymouth, Mich., Linda Niemi, Milwaukee, Laila Niemi, Calumet, and Rose Ann Koivisto and Joyce Routhier, both of Hurley; brothers-in-law, Robert Peite, Hurley, and Anthony Peite, Osborn, Idaho; and numerous nieces and nephews.

Besides his parents and first wife, Verne was predeceased by a daughter, Brenda, in infancy; three brothers, Carl, Calvin and Raymond; and two sisters, Aili Niemi and Mildred Makinen.

Funeral services will be held Saturday, Aug. 8, at 11 a.m., preceded by visitation at 10 a.m., at the McKevitt-Patrick Funeral Home, 305 N. Lowell St., in Ironwood, with the Rev. Kurt Kovanen officiating.

Full military rites will follow, accorded by the Mercier-Kero American Legion Post 371 Honor Guard.

Private interment will be in Lakeview Cemetery, Calumet.

Arrangements have been entrusted to McKevitt-Patrick Funeral Home, Inc., Ironwood. Condolences may be given to Verne's family online at mckevittpatrickfuneralhome.com.