Archie Dean Searle

HURLEY, Wis. - Archie Dean Searle, 82, of Ironwood, died peacefully in his sleep at the Villa Maria Nursing home in Hurley on June 29, 2017.

Archie was born May 8, 1935, to John James and Dorothy (Hewitt) Searle in Ironwood, Mich. He attended Central grade school and later graduated from Luther L. Wright High School in 1953.

Right after graduation, Archie joined the U.S. Navy, where he served as an ordnance man on the USS Midway and the USS Saratoga. While on the Midway, he was awarded his Shellback and was then plank owner on the USS Saratoga. He was discharged in 1957, when he then returned to Ironwood. On May 8, 1965, he married the former Rose Marie Rigoni.

Out of the service, Archie worked for Swift Company and Atlas Van Lines, before accepting a position as a firefighter with the Ironwood Public Safety Department. He was later promoted to the Ironwood police force where Archie served the better part of his career as police captain. While working as a police officer, he allocated a great amount of time working with the youth of the community. He retired after 30 years of service in the summer of 1990.

During his free time, Archie enjoyed hunting, playing softball and spending time with family and friends. He spent a lot of time with his springer spaniels and at his hunting camp in north Ironwood. Archie was always ready to lend a helping hand wherever needed and had an eye for problem solving. You could always find Archie wherever the laughs were coming from.

He is preceded in death by his father, John James, and mother, Dorothy Searle; brother, Richard; and mother-in-law and father-in-law, Lena and Matt Rigoni.

Archie is survived by his wife, Rose, of 52 years; daughter, Susan, and husband, James Biros, and their daughter, Gabrielle, of White Bear Lake, Minn .; son, Daniel and wife, Jeanine Searle, and their daughters, Sydney and Isabella, of Ramsey, Minn .; brother, John James "Jack" and wife, Rita Searle, of Ironwood; sister-in-law, Antoinette and husband, Anton Pertile, of Ironwood; brother-in-law, Jack and wife, Jean Rigoni, of Ironwood; along with an abundance of nieces and nephews.

In accordance with Archie's wishes, cremation has taken place. Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Friday, July 14, at 11 a.m., preceded by visitation at 10 a.m., at Our Lady of Peace Catholic Church, 108 S Marquette St., Ironwood, with Father Frank Kordek OFM, as celebrant. Full military rites will be conducted by Ironwood American Legion Post 5 Honor Guard.

Luncheon will be served at the church hall immediately after service. Inurnment will be in the Riverside Cemetery in Ironwood.

The family would like to extend their gratitude to the staff at the Villa Maria Nursing Home who provided excellent care for Archie.

Range Funeral Service and Crematory, Ketola-Burla Funeral Home of Ironwood is handling the arrangements. To send online condolences, visit rangefuneralservices.com.