Mitchell James Perlich

BESSEMER, Mich. - Mitchell James Perlich, 64, of Ironwood, passed away peacefully Saturday, Aug. 5, 2023, surrounded by his loving family. He fought bravely for six months with lung cancer, but unfortunately lost that battle.

Mitchell was born April 7, 1959, in Marquette, to his parents, Donald Walter Beck and Patricia Anne Perlich-Beck. He grew up with his family, friends, and many cousins in Belleville, Illinois.

In Bellville, he was a high school wrestling team member graduating from Belleville East High School in 1977.

Later he moved to Bessemer, where he met and made many friends.

He was an avid follower of the St. Louis Cardinals baseball team and the University of Michigan Wolverines football team. He also played softball and participated in the dart ball leagues.

He spent most of his life working as a construction carpenter, including at Action Floors and Haven North Condominiums.

Mitch was preceded in death by his wife, Dawn Allen Perlich; his parents, Donald Walter Beck and Patricia Perlich-Beck; maternal grandparents, Frank and Grace Perlich; paternal grandmother, Rose Beck; uncle, Mickey Perlich; great-aunt, Julia Rosa; and cousin, Kimberly Quirk.

He is survived by his brother, Jim (John) Beck of St. Cloud, Minnesota; sisters, Lori Fabbri of Belleville, Illinois, and Christi Beck-Shultz of Ironwood; his two daughters, Jamie (Dustin) Perlich of Park Falls, Wisconsin and April Johnson of Kewaskum, Wisconsin; and his five sons, Trevor (Mary) Perlich of Ironwood, Cory Perlich of Ironwood, Steven (Jess) Perlich of Hartford, Wisconsin, Terry Kiefer of Ironwood, and Trent Perlich of Ironwood; as well as his former wife and girlfriend, Diane Johnson, of whom we'd like to thank for taking such good care of Mitchell.

He is also survived by aunts, Carolyn McCreary of Arvada, Colorado, Kathy (Tom) Nutt of Roselle, Illinois, Louise (Dennis) Quirk of Arvada, Sylvia Edwards of Illinois, and Shirley (Mike) Cornell of Springfield, Illinois; grandchildren, Jimmy Davis, Lorelei Davis, Caden Mitchell James Perlich, Hannah Barmac, Ryker Medinger, Mason Negri, Grace Kiefer, Gage Mullikin and Alexis Webber; great-grandchild, Louella Davis; and friends, Adam Lorendo of Ironwood, and Gary "Cootie" Johnson of Bessemer, as well as many more friends, cousins, nieces and nephews.

A visitation will take place on Aug. 19, at 11 a.m. at Frick-Zielinski Funeral Home, at 304 S. Sophie St., in Bessemer.

The family has chosen Frick-Zielinski Funeral Home to honor Mitch's legacy of life. You can leave condolences or a tribute at rangefuneralservices.com.