Loved one's passing sparks creative tribute

By PAMELA JANSSON

pjansson@yourdailyglobe.com

IRON BELT, Wis. — When a loved one passes away, it is sometimes difficult to reconcile the loss.

But it’s possible, sometimes, to find genuine comfort in deciding upon a meaningful commemoration.

Donna Wiita of Hurley did just that — eventually — when she lost her husband, Edward C. John Wiita, just before Christmas in 2022.

They had been married for 63 years when he died on Dec. 17, nearly two years ago at the age of 88.

Over the many decades, they had shared good times and bad, including the loss of their son, John Robert Wiita. But they built a rich life overall.

“Everyone knew him as John,” said Donna of her husband, who used his middle name. Likewise, she said of her son, “Everyone knew him as Bob.”

When they met in their youth, John was repossessing cars in Milwaukee. But he soon moved his bride back to Iron Belt, where they built the Badger Motel.

After years of selling insurance for a major company, John also opened his own insurance business, which increased his community outreach, both directly and indirectly.

Through his insurance connections, he was able to supply fire prevention materials to local school kids. He also rallied insurance funds to promote support such as counseling to kids wherein substance abuse was an issue.

He also helped to create a corporation with stockholders to request federal government cooperation in ultimately developing a Savings and Loan in Hurley.

Finally, John also chaired a committee that recruited physicians to the region, and later worked to attract dentists as well.

He also served on the Iron County Board of Supervisors.

Donna said she decided to work toward a new arched entry for Hillside Cemetery in Iron Belt as a means of honoring her husband’s legacy and processing her own loss.

The former entry, she said, consisted only of wooden posts that no longer were viable.

“We only had pillars that were deteriorating,” said Donna, who imagined an entirely new metal-based arch.

“Nobody in the area has anything like this,” she said of the new entry. “It isn’t a regular arch.”

She provided the design enacted by Ron Tankka from Cramblit’s Welding LLC in Ironwood, Michigan.

John’s grave is now included in the cemetery, but the significance of the contribution to Iron Belt also involves Donna’s own history in the community.

She just moved to Hurley in the past year after having lived in Iron Belt since her husband moved here there after their marriage.

“Everyone was so good to me, so caring,” she said of the Iron Belt community when she arrived.

“Everyone looked out for everyone,” she added. “It’s just such a warm community, a great place to raise kids.”

Now, she stated in noting the results, “In remembrance of all family and friends who called Iron Belt, Wisconsin, home, the Edward C. John Wiita family has donated this beautiful cemetery arch.”

Donna is pleased that other community members also rallied to address other improvements in the cemetery.

She said the town council of Iron Belt fixed up the flag pole behind the entrance, and ladies at the Iron Belt Senior Center planted flowers after getting donations for the cost.

On Aug. 22, the family gathered to commemorate the new archway. Also present with Donna was her daughter, Lori Wiita Estabrook of Hurley, and the three children of her late son: Angeline Wiita, 17, and her twin siblings, Michael and Madelyn, 15, all of Saxon.

The children’s father died on Feb. 1, 2015, at the age of 53 and left his own unique mark on the community.

After studying criminal justice and law, Bob eventually owned the Wiita Insurance Agency in Hurley. He was noted for developing and getting a patent for a special workman’s compensation policy used in Native American casinos nationwide.