Louis 'Cookie' Laguna

MONTREAL, Wis. - Louis "Cookie" Laguna, a longtime resident of Montreal, passed away at home late Sunday evening, Sept. 20, 2026, following a battle with cancer, with his loving family by his side.

Cookie was born on April 11, 1951, in Ironwood, Michigan, to Louis Laguna Sr. and Mafalda Laguna. In April 1983, he was united in marriage to Colleen Schulze.

Cookie was blessed with two children, Sheri and Gary; and Colleen was blessed with a son, Brad.

How can you possibly sum up Cookie's life? It would take thousands of words. Cookie spent his entire life helping friends and family with projects, no matter how big or small. He always said that he could fix everything but a broken heart. He loved being around people and would spend hours talking to folks he knew and those he just met.

Cookie attended Montreal Grade School and graduated from J.E. Murphy High School in 1969. After high school, he worked for Lawler Amusement and Giovanoni's Hardware.

In 1972, he began working for the Hurley School District and later became head of maintenance for the five schools in the district. He gave 40 years of dedicated service to the Hurley School District and the students of his community. He hardly ever took a vacation. The school was his life, and he wanted it to run like a finely tuned clock, fixing anything and everything.

After 40 years at the school, he retired to high praise of a job well done, and in 2011 Cookie was inducted into the Hall of Fame, which made him very proud.

He was also a proud member of the Montreal Fire Department for 25 years, starting out as a fireman and later becoming chief. In addition, he collected boat launch tickets at Gile Park for many years and, with his gift of gab, would spend many hours talking to fishermen.

He was always busy cutting wood and had the neatest woodpile in Montreal. He also loved taking rides on his '89 Goldwing motorcycle with his wife, Colleen, and always wanted to be on the road. He loved driving to Alabama to visit his sister, Babe, and brother-in-law, Charlie, whom he truly loved.

Cookie is survived by his wife, Colleen; a son, Gary Laguna; a daughter, Sheri Harten (Brian); his stepson, Brad Schulze; a sister, Marge Berry (Charlie); two brothers, Alfred Laguna and Lawrence Laguna; three nieces, Renee Hill (Roger), Dawn Laguna and Aubrey Laguna; a nephew, Mark Laguna; his sister-in-law, Cheryl DeRizzo; a niece, Tracy Zanella (Jeremy); a nephew, Dan DeRizzo (Christin); two great-nieces, Danielle Defelice (Dylan) and Kali Traczyk; five grandchildren, Mason Schulze, Elaina and Gibson Schulze, and Andrew and Valerie Laguna; a cousin, Maxine Sands; and numerous other cousins.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Louis Sr. and Mafalda Laguna; his sister-in-law, Barbara Laguna; a niece, Robyn Laguna; his sister-in-law, Loretta Laguna; his brother-in-law, Dan DeRizzo; his father-in-law and mother-in-law, Herbert and Elaine Swanbeck; his brother-in-law, Gary Swanbeck; and a special friend, Frank Bononamo.

At his request, cremation has taken place.

The family will greet relatives and friends on Tuesday, Oct. 20, from 9:30 to 10:45 a.m., at St. Mary of the Seven Dolors Catholic Church, 404 Iron St., in Hurley. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 11 a.m., with the Rev. Hrydaya Raju Sunkara, celebrant.

Rite of Committal and interment will follow at St. Mary's Cemetery, Hurley.

Funeral arrangements have been entrusted to Lakeside Memorial Chapel Inc., in Wakefield, Michigan. Thank you to Jerald Rocco for your compassion and kindness. Deep appreciation goes to Regional Hospice, especially Mary Leinon. I couldn't have done it without you. Thank you to my nephew, Dan DeRizzo, for being Cookie's special friend, and for my son, Brad, for all the help he gave me every single day taking care of Cookie. Thank you to Cookie's sister, Margaret; cousin, Maxine; friend, Sandy; and sister, Cherie, for all their support.

Please remember Cookie for his bright smile, his jokes and his long stories.

There will never be another Cookie Laguna. All of us who loved you will miss you dearly.

"See you in church if you sit by the window." Cookie, honey, rest in peace.

I love you dearly - Colleen.