James Kenneth 'Jarv' Jarvey

WAUSAU, Wis. - James Kenneth "Jarv" Jarvey, 64, of Ontonagon, Mich., formally of South Range, Mich., passed away at Aspirius Wausau Hospital on March 10, 2016, after a short illness.

Kenny was born on March 7, 1952, in Hancock, Mich., the only son of the late Albert "Abbey" and Sylvia Jarvey, of South Range. Kenny attended school at Jeffers High School, graduating in 1970. He played hockey locally and traveled with his team out of town. In 1991, Kenny was united in marriage to Sally Dubey. Recently, he and Sally traveled to Sault St. Marie, Mich., to watch her grandson, Zach Ahola, who plays for the Soo Indians and to see the "Pullar" stadium where he last played hockey in 1968.

Kenny started working at an early age. He worked at his grandpa Kantala's store, Kivi's Market, Yalmer Mattila Contracting, construction work, building the first phase of Quinnesec and Lakeshore Inc. of Ontonagon, until it closed in 1997. At that time, Kenny had an opportunity to buy a local bar, the Dry Dock. The Jarveys ran the bar for almost 15 years before selling it. Kenny built the Dry Dock into a successful gathering place.

Kenny was preceded in death by his parents, Abbey, in 1979, and Sylvia, in 1993; his in-laws, Helen and Bob Drew, in 2013; also his grandparents' aunts and uncles.

His is survived by his wife, Sally, of Ontonagon; stepdaughters, Tammy (Neil) Ahola, of Hancock and Renae (Randal Sahs) Dubey, of Sturgeon Bay; two stepgrandsons, Zach Ahola, of Hancock, and Thaddeus Sahs, of Sturgeon Bay; sisters, Becky (Dave) Raffaelli, of Donken, Mich., and their sons Jesse and Kyle, and Cindy Jarvey, of South Range, and her daughter Rebecca Patterson and her daughter Teriana; sister-in-law, Jean (Ray) Jadin, of Lexington, S.C .; brothers-in-law, Mike (Patti) Drew, of Ontonagon and Pat Drew, of Green Bay; and special uncle, Ed Wuorinen, of the Bluffs in Houghton. He is also survived by his former wife, Florence Joyal, of Hancock; and many cousins, extended family and lots of friends.

A service for Jarv will be announced at a later date.

To view Jarv's obituary or to send condolences to the family please visit memorialchapel.net.

The Memorial Chapel and Plowe Funeral Homes have been assisting the family with the arrangements.