Earl Charles Gumm

IRONWOOD, Mich. - Earl Charles Gumm, age 88, of Ironwood, formerly of Bessemer, passed away peacefully with his family by his side on Friday, March 25, 2022, at Westgate Nursing, Rehabilitation and Assisted Living Community in Ironwood. He was born June 14, 1933, in Crandon, Wisconsin, son of the late Carrie and Curtis Gumm.

Earl grew up in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan until he went to war in Korea in 1953, where he was a corporal in the U.S. Army. He was working in Milwaukee when he returned from Korea, but would continue to come home to the U.P. where he met Delores, the love of his life. On Dec. 10, 1955, he married Delores Jean Guglielmotto at the Gogebic County Courthouse in Bessemer. Earl and Delores moved to the city to start their working careers. He worked various jobs over the years then narrowed his focus as a plant manager for American Dry Cleaners in Butler, Wisconsin. Once they started a family, they believed it was best to return back "home" to raise their children in Bessemer, where Earl took on the very challenging job as an underground miner at the White Pine Copper Mine. Although he and Delores returned to the city to work after raising their children, they made their forever home in Bessemer when he retired.

Earl enjoyed special times taking his family on picnics to Bobcat Lake in Marenisco, he also cherished his time with his friends and family, playing cards and cheering on all of the ADJ Bessemer sports teams. He really enjoyed his "road trips" down old logging roads and going to the casino with his best friend, Bob Delich, and later in life those same types of road trips, and fishing with his buddy, Leon Kavis. He was a gentle and kind man, who took pride and joy in his family. He was a wonderful father and grandfather. Family was always first – he was so very proud of, and absolutely cherished his kids and their spouses, his grandkids and great-grandkids. His legacy of caring for his family will never be forgotten.

Earl is survived by two sons, Jeffrey (Janet), Union Grove, Wisconsin, and Jerry (Angeles), Harvard, Illinois; a daughter, Julie (Tom) Furman, Waukesha, Wisconsin; seven grandchildren; four great-grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews. He also leaves behind his dearest friend, Leon.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his wife, Delores Jean; a son, Jon David; and a grandson, Thomas Burford Furman IV. Earl was the last remaining child of Curtis and Carrie Gumm, having had 12 siblings who preceded him in death.

The family wishes to thank the very caring staff at Westgate Nursing, Rehabilitation and Assisted Living Community for the many years of care they gave to Earl. As we mentioned to many of the staff at Westgate, saying "thank you" for the phenomenal manner in which they took care of our Dad, well, seemed small... We would also like to thank Jenny Gheller, Diane Jackson and Donny Morrison for the many times they visited him at Westgate. Thank you to the Guglielmotto family for the times they spent with Earl while we were unable to. A special thanks to John Frello who over the years was always there for support and guidance with the Veterans Administration for Dad.

Per his wishes, cremation has taken place.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Friday, June 24, 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.

Rite of Committal and interment will take place at the Hillcrest Cemetery in Bessemer, where military rites will be accorded.

Arrangements have been designated to our very dear friend, Jerald Rocco, owner and manager of Lakeside Memorial Chapel Inc., in Wakefield – who has been a godsend to our family throughout the years. To send online condolences, please go to lakesidememorialchapel.com.