Merlin Niemi

ESCANABA, Mich. — Merlin Niemi, 89, formerly of Ewen, passed away on Sept. 26, 2015, in Escanaba, where he had lived since 2012.

Merlin was born April 20, 1926, to the late Rayno and Laila (Rajala) Niemi. He graduated from Ewen High School in 1945, and served in the U.S. Army from 1945 to 1947. He married Angela King on Oct. 2, 1948, in the Sacred Heart Church of Ewen. Together they raised five children on their family farm on Fair Oaks Road in Ewen.

In 1957, Merlin was employed as an electrician for the White Pine Copper Company until he retired in 1985. Merlin was an active member of the Sacred Heart Church and belonged to the Knights of Columbus. As a World War II veteran, he was an active member of the American Legion Post 41 and marched with the honor guard until he was 85 years of age.

Merlin loved the outdoors and spent many happy hours walking his land. He enjoyed hunting and especially the hunting camp he built with his son, Chris. He was an avid woodcarver and made many original carvings, mostly religious, for his family and friends.

He is survived by his wife of 66 years, Angela (King) Niemi; his five children, June (Greg) Hamilton, of Farmington, N.M., Paulette (Jim) Groos, of Escanaba, Chris (Leianne) Niemi, of Ironwood, Marlene (Tim) Maki, of Union, Wash., and Marilou (Dan) Cazzola, of Iron Mountain; 11 grandchildren, Aaron and Morgan (Boyle) Maki, Cory Niemi, Jamie (Momber) and Cara (Nettle) Groos, Gina (MacLure) and Paul Hamilton, Jordan, Bridgette, Alex and Olivia Cazzola; six great-grandchildren; a brother, Gladen Niemi; and a sister, Jean O’Reilly.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Monday, Oct. 5, at 11 a.m. at Sacred Heart Church in Ewen with Rev. Francis G. Dobrzenski officiating. Visitation will begin at 10 a.m. and continue until the Mass. Burial will follow in the Evergreen Cemetery in Ewen. The Cane Funeral Home — Bruce Crossing Chapel is assisting the family.

Friends may view Merlin’s obituary and leave messages of remembrance at canefuneralhome.com.