Serving Gogebic, Iron and Ontonagon Counties

Judith A. Sobolewski

WAKEFIELD, Mich. - Judith A. Sobolewski, 82, of Ironwood Township, died peacefully early Monday morning, Feb. 27, 2017, at Gogebic Medical Care Facility in Wakefield.

The former Judith Hautamaki was born June 15, 1934, in Ironwood, daughter of the late Isaac and Mary (Tampio) Hautamaki, attended Newport Grade School and graduated from Luther L. Wright High School in 1952. She was employed briefly with Michigan Bell Telephone Co. prior to homemaking. Later she worked at her family's business, Hautamaki's Westgate Rest Haven for many years, retiring as assistant administrator upon the sale of Westgate in 1993.

Judy was a member of Our Lady of Peace Catholic Church in Ironwood, where she served as a Eucharistic Minister, belonged to the Befrienders Group and was involved in various other church activities. She also volunteered at the Grand View Hospital. Judy loved to meet people and was able to chat with anyone. Above all, Judy's family was the focus in her life. She traveled near and far to share life with her brothers, sisters, children and grandchildren.

She was married to Lawrence Sobolewski on Aug. 15, 1953, at St. Michael's Catholic Church in Ironwood by the late Rev. Francis X. Ronkowski. Larry preceded her in death on Sept. 29, 2016.

Surviving are four sons, Greg (Susan), Winona, Minn., Rob (Jane), Ironwood, Jim (Lisa), Wausau, Wis., and Tom (Anna), Cincinnati, Ohio; nine grandchildren, David (Katie) Sobolewski, Amy (Dan) Shay, John (Lauren) Sobolewski, Jared and Ryan Sobolewski, Ava and Camille Sobolewski, and Luke and Scott Sobolewski; one great-grandson, Jack; a brother, Charles Hautamaki, Wakefield; two sisters, Eileen Kelly, Bend, Ore., and Sharon (Brian) Laabs, Ironwood Township; brother-in-law, Jerome Sobolewski, Iron Mountain; sisters-in-law, Helen Graykoski, Bloomer, Wis., Doree Hautamaki, Germantown, Wis., Millie Sobolewski, Alpena, and Madeline Sobolewski, Grantsburg, Wis .; and numerous nieces and nephews.

In addition to her parents and husband, Judy was predeceased by two brothers, Amos and Sulo Hautamaki; a sister, Ilta Gertz; brothers-in-law, Felix Graykoski, Tony, John and Steve Sobolewski, Ralph Gertz, Lynn Kelly, Reino Makinen and Eugene Brady; and sisters-in-law, Junette Hautamaki, Eleanor Hautamaki, Jo Makinen, Stella Brady and Evelyn Sobolewski.

Visitation will be Tuesday, March 7, from 10 to 11 a.m., in the St. Joseph Family Room at Our Lady of Peace Church in Ironwood. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 11 a.m., with the Rev. Robb Jurkovich, celebrant.

Luncheon will follow in the parish hall.

Rite of Committal and interment will be in Riverside Cemetery, Ironwood, in the spring.

Pallbearers will be David, John, Jared and Ryan Sobolewski and Dan and Amy Shay.

In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred to Our Lady of Peace Church, 108 S. Marquette St., Ironwood, MI 49938.

Arrangements have been entrusted to McKevitt-Patrick Funeral Home Inc., Ironwood. Condolences may be expressed online at mckevittpatrickfuneralhome.com.

The family wishes to extend a huge heartfelt thank you to the staff and caregivers at Gogebic Medical Care Facility for making Judy's stay during the past two years as home-like as possible.