Anton 'Tony' Pertile

MARSHFIELD, Wis. - Anton "Tony" Pertile, 79, of Bessemer, Mich., passed away peacefully at St. Joseph's Hospital in Marshfield Sunday morning, Dec. 15, 2013, surrounded by his loving family.

He was born Jan. 18, 1934, in Bessemer, son of the late Mario and Anna (Versecki) Pertile. Tony attended Barber School in Yale, St. Sebastian Catholic School, and Washington School, and he graduated from A.D. Johnston High School in Bessemer in 1951. He was very active in planning the class reunions and especially enjoyed visiting with his classmates and sharing stories.

On Sept. 17, 1955, he was united in marriage with Kathleen Carli at St. Ambrose Catholic Church in Ironwood, Mich. They were together for 58 happy years. Tony loved to drive and travel. Over the years he worked for Ruppe Concrete, Lake Superior Gravel, Irwin J. Neault, Coach Services, Forslund Fuel, Eilo Trucking and Stempihar's.

In 1960 he went to work for White Pine Copper Company, where he worked for 25 years until his retirement. He held positions as a maintenance man, assistant foreman, foreman and master mechanic. After his retirement from White Pine, he was employed by the Gogebic County Road Commission as a truck driver and heavy equipment operator for 13 years, retiring as a working foreman. During his time with the county, he enjoyed blowing up beaver dams.

Tony loved being around all types of equipment, taking pride in operating anything.

"You start it, I'll run it."

Tony also loved his camp, "The Doghouse," and being in the woods. He enjoyed trips to Mackinac Island with his girls. He spent many hours in his woodworking shop and enjoyed giving away his treasures and making people happy. He loved spending time with his family and friends. Tony left a lasting impression on everyone he met. His smile and sense of humor will be greatly missed. He was one-of-a-kind.

Tony will always be remembered for his stories. His famous words were "Did I ever tell you about the time when...?"

He was a lifetime member of St. Sebastian Catholic Church in Bessemer, where he had served as an usher and a Eucharistic minister. He had a very strong faith.

He was a member of the Bessemer Volunteer Fire Department for 40 years.

Tony is survived by his wife, Kathleen, of Bessemer; two daughters, Tonette (Bob) Obradovich, of Ironwood Township, and Suzette Pertile, of Kimball; four granddaughters, Bobbi Jo Obradovich, Cali (JJ) Aspinwall, Carli Anderson, and the apple of his eye, Mercedes Anderson; one sister, Bonnie Peterson, of Ironwood; and several nephews and nieces.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by one son, Baby Jerry; one infant brother, Donald; one sister, Mary Ann Bjurstrom; and several aunts and uncles.

As per Tony's wishes, cremation has taken place at the Range Crematory in Hurley. He wanted his cremains to be with his little boy.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Saturday, Dec. 21, at 1 p.m. at St. Sebastian Catholic Church in Bessemer. The Rev. Antony Lukka and Rev. Louis Bracket will con-celebrate.

Luncheon will follow in the church basement.

The family will receive friends from noon until the time of Mass at the church.

Spring inurnment will be with his little boy in the Hillcrest Cemetery in Bessemer.

Arrangements are by Range Funeral Service and Crematory, Ketola-Burla and Frick-Zielinski Funeral Homes.