Francis 'Youser' Tannheimer

BESSEMER, Mich. - Francis "Youser" Tannheimer, 89, of Bessemer, passed away Friday, Feb. 21, 2020, at the Gogebic Medical Care Facility in Wakefield.

Francis was born on Aug. 5, 1930, in Bessemer, a son of Jacob and Albertina (Kranzlin) Tannheimer. Francis graduated from Bessemer Area Schools and worked in several local iron ore and copper mines with his last being a foreman at White Pine Copper Mine retiring in 1992.

In 1953, he was united in marriage to Dorothy D. Barto, in Montreal, Wisconsin. Together they made Bessemer their home while raising their children.

Francis is survived by his beloved wife, Dorothy; daughters, Debbie (Rick) Minkin and Gail Martell; sons, Daniel (LaMar) and James (Jill); grandchildren, Stacey (Steve) Rowan, Nicole (Andy) McRae, Christopher Minkin, Daniel (Christina) Tannheimer Jr., Kyle (Laura) Tannheimer, Blair (John) LaCoy, James Tannheimer Jr., Aaron and Megan Martell; great-grandchildren, Mitchell and Hannah Rowan, Keely McRae, Charlotte, Emma and Frankie Tannheimer, Graydon and Porter Tannheimer and Kolby LaCoy; and numerous nieces and nephews.

Francis was preceded in death by his parents; brothers, Joseph, Larry and Louie; sisters, Mary Jacobson, Anna Elias and Cecilia Eisenback; and his brother-in-law, David Barto.

He served in the U.S. Army both in Japan and Korea and was a dedicated member of the Bessemer Veterans of Foreign Wars and American Legion Posts serving on their honor guard for many years.

Francis was an active member of St. Sebastian Catholic Church for more than 65 years - always helping out with any projects that the church needed from peeling potatoes for their famous Pasty sales to annual Christmas decorations to general maintenance duties.

Francis loved to stay active and was involved in baseball, volleyball, golfing, running, fishing for salmon, deer hunting, rabbit hunting and cutting firewood right up to his late 70s. He was an avid gardener with fantastic produce every year which he shared with many.

He was a devoted husband, father, uncle, father-in-law, grandfather, and great-grandfather who always placed a priority on family. He had a passion for travel, reading (especially) World War II stories and was a lifelong die-hard fan of the Green Bay Packers and Detroit Tigers.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated Saturday, Feb. 29, at 11 a.m., preceded by visitation at 10 a.m., at St. Sebastian Catholic Church, 210 E. Iron St., in Bessemer, with the Rev. Dominic Agyapong, celebrant.

Following the Mass, military rites will be accorded by the Bessemer VFW Post 3673 and Bessemer American Legion Post 27 Honor Guard, assisted by the U.P. Funeral Honors Team.

Rite of Committal and interment will take place at Hillcrest Cemetery, Bessemer, in the spring.

Funeral arrangements have been entrusted to Jerald Rocco, owner and manager of Lakeside Memorial Chapel Inc., in Wakefield. Condolences may be expressed online at lakesidememorialchapel.com.