Doreen Lynn (Martinson) Passuello

IRONWOOD TOWNSHIP, Mich. - Doreen Lynn (Martinson) Passuello, 59, joined her Maker in Heaven on April 2, 2016, with her husband, sister and family at her side, after a courageous battle with cancer.

Doreen was born October 12, 1956, to Carl (Rudy) and Nelmi Martinson. She was the youngest of four children. She grew up on a dairy and beef farm in south Bessemer and attended Bessemer Township grade schools. Doreen was involved in 4-H throughout her youth years in horses, beef, and dairy projects. She sold a steer at the first Youth Market Sale at the Gogebic County Fair. In 1974, she graduated from A.D. Johnston High School in Bessemer. She then attended Huntlea Horsemanship School in Tennessee.

Doreen and her sister opened Bar D Corral, a western wear store, in 1978. She operated the downtown Ironwood store.

Doreen was married to Rod Passuello on Aug. 2, 1980. They purchased a farm in north Ironwood and Spring Valley Ranch was established. In 1985, after the birth of their first child, Bar D Corral was closed and the Passuellos started Spring Valley Ranch Equestrian Center. The ranch is well known in the horse world for breeding, training, riding instruction, and horse care.

Doreen was also well known as a cattle and horse judge in the U.P. and northern Wisconsin. Doreen was very proud that she had shown animals at the Gogebic County Fair for over 50 consecutive years and was also a 4-H leader for many years. She was very dedicated to her many students, many of whom showed under her instruction for years. She passed her love of horses on to her children and step children; all of them showed horses or cattle. Stepson Pete and granddaughter Katelyn still do, and stepdaughter Sarah is an assistant trainer at a horse racing stable in Kentucky.

Doreen's love of horses was only surpassed by her love for her family, whether it was camping, dog sled racing, farming, stock car racing, or showing animals, she was her children's biggest fan and supporter.

Doreen published Superior Horse Talk, a horse magazine for the U.P. and northern Wisconsin for many years. On printing day, she and her mother would assemble the pages for the magazine on her kitchen table.

Doreen was instrumental in the formation of the Lake Superior Quarter Horse Association and served as its first president. At the time of her death she was a board member. Doreen and her sister also started the U.P., Championship Show as part of U.P. Equifest, a U.P. and northern Wisconsin horse extravaganza. She was the current board chairman.

Doreen formed Spring Valley Ranch Horsemen's Club for her clients. It was an educational club that taught her clients not only how to ride, but also horsemanship, and how to organize and run a horse show. The SVR Club has held a weekend of Lake Superior Quarter Horse Association sanctioned shows every June. She was working on the plans for the 2016 show, and it will be held in Ironwood again this year.

Surviving are her husband, Rod, of 35 years; three sons, Clay Passuello (Kari Ruhr), Ironwood Township, Martin Passuello, Ironwood, and Lane (Ashley) Passuello, Kimball, Wis .; stepson, Peter (Nicole) Passuello, Eau Claire, Wis .; stepdaughter, Sarah Passuello-Brady (Angie), LaGrange, Ky .; granddaughter, Katelyn Passuello, Eau Claire; mother, Nelmi Martinson, Bessemer; brothers, Dan (Kathy) Martinson and Dr. Donald Martinson, and sister, Diane (Bill) Maccani, all of Bessemer Township; and numerous aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews and cousins.

Doreen was preceded in death by her father, Carl Martinson.

Out of respect for her wishes, cremation has taken place.

Memorial services will be held Wednesday, April 6, at 11 a.m., preceded by visitation at 10 a.m., at Zion Lutheran Church, 100 W. Midland Ave., in Ironwood, with Pastor Kurt Kovanen officiating.

A reception will follow in the church fellowship hall.

Arrangements have been entrusted to McKevitt-Patrick Funeral Home and Cremation Services of Ironwood. Online condolences may be expressed at mckevittpatrickfuneralhome.com.