Serving Gogebic, Iron and Ontonagon Counties
Serving Gogebic, Iron and Ontonagon Counties
BESSEMER, Mich. - William F. Barbacovi passed away Jan. 24, 2021, at 99 years young.
Bill was born April 19, 1921, in Bessemer to Agnes and Louis Barbacovi.
Bill married Marie C. Richter on April 7, 1945, in Rice Lake, Wisconsin. They made their forever home on East Longyear Street in Bessemer, raising six children.
You would find Bill in his garage at all hours working on cars and puttering with wood, making his famous donkey carts. Bill and Marie seldom missed a chance to kick up their heels to a polka. The entire neighborhood could hear Bill crank up his music to Polka Party.
Bill was also a great story teller and loved capturing your attention about his hunting camp experiences.
Besides Bill's parents, he was preceded in death by his wife, Marie, of 49 years; daughter, Gloria Orcutt; grandson, William B. Barbacovi; granddaughter, Jeanette L. Rye; sisters, Alma Gembolis and Mayme Luoma.
Bill is survived by children, John (Sandy) Barbacovi; Bill (Mayrene) Barbacovi, Rita (John) Barbari, Mary (Carl) Hough and Judy (Erick) Erickson; a sister, Helen Whitburn; grandchildren, Mark Barbari, Jason Hough, John W. Barbacovi Jr., Kristi Dalbeck, Tony Russ and Kera Ossanna; and 14 great-grandchildren.
A family memorial service will be held at time of burial.
