Serving Gogebic, Iron and Ontonagon Counties

James Paul Ninefeldt

IRONWOOD, Mich. — James Paul Ninefeldt, 73, of Marenisco (Lake Gogebic), Michigan, passed away on April 21, 2022, at Westgate Nursing, Rehabilitation and Assisted Living Community.

James was born on Sept. 15, 1948, in Moose Lake, Minnesota, the son of Ernest and Irene (Pilarski) Ninefeldt of Barnum, Minnesota. He attended school in Barnum and graduated from Barnum High School in 1966. He then attended the University of Minnesota in Duluth, graduating in 1971.

James married Jean Carol Tarro of Montreal, Wisconsin, on Nov. 27, 1968. They started their lives together in Duluth, Minnesota. They moved to Ontonagon in 1973, where Jim began his career as controller of the Ontonagon Paper Mill. He worked for several corporations before retiring in 2006. Then Jim and Jean retired to their lake home on Lake Gogebic.

Jim is survived by his wife, Jean of Lake Gogebic; daughter, Lisa (James) Vanouwerkerk of Green Bay, Wisconsin; son, Paul (Tanya Jordan) Ninefeldt of Orange, California; granddaughter, Kassidy Jean of Green Bay; brothers, Joseph (Kathy) Ninefeldt of Duluth, John (Jackie) Ninefeldt of Barnum and Geoff Ninefeldt (Louise Theisen) of Clancy, Montana; sisters, Melinda Ninefeldt (Eugene Dutkin) of Kettle RIver, Minnesota, and Brenda (Tim) Johnson of Barnum; and many nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Ernest and Irene Ninefeldt; and granddaughter, Amy Margaret Vanouwerkerk.

The family will hold a celebration of Jim’s life in the summer.

In memory of Jim, donations will be greatly appreciated to OCAP (Ontonagon County Animal Protection) Shelter in Ontonagon at ocappaws.org.

“The wind as in sailing carried Jim away, and now he is free.”

The family would like to express their kindest gratitude to all of the staff at Westgate Nursing, Rehabilitation and Assisted Living Community for Jim’s care during the short time he was there now and in 2019.

The family has chosen McKevitt-Patrick Funeral Home of Ironwood to honor Jim’s legacy of life. You can leave a condolence or a tribute at mckevitpatrickfuneralhome.com.