Vernamae Hibbeln

She was born in Ontonagon on July 26, 1931, to the late Einar and Mary Alina (Honkavaara) Kangas. Vernamae graduated from Ontonagon High School in 1949. Her high school activities included chorus and the home economics club.

She married Walter Charles Hibbeln on June 27, 1953 (Walter’s birthday), at the Holy Family Catholic Church with Rev. Owen J. Bennett officiating.

Vernamae worked as a telephone operator in Rockford, Illinois, while Walter was in the U.S. Navy.

They lived in Detroit before returning to Ontonagon where they owned and operated the Go-Inn Bar in Green for 17 years. Also known, as the Green Onion, the Go-Inn became a community gathering place for locals and visitors to the area. This included the Go-Inn Snowmobile Club of which Verna and Wally were among the founding members. Memorable events that Vernamae coordinated were the annual New Years Eve bash and hunter meals.

Other than the few years in Rockford, Detroit, and in Franklin, Tennessee (where Walter started his career as a Mine Safety Inspector), Vernamae lived all of her life in Ontonagon (Green). She was also employed at the former Kempen Jewelry Store and Gambles Hardware in Ontonagon.

She enjoyed her community activities serving on the Election Board and playing center field on her women’s softball team. As Wally was often working Verna proved herself capable with a wrench being Ms. Fix-it around the house. She once surprised a friend who dropped by rolling out from under a vehicle where she was changing the gas tank.

Being of 100% Finnish heritage Verna’s life was an example of Sisu. She embodied courage and determination. Her pasties were a family favorite and of course she had a definite opinion on adding rutabagas. The sauna fire was most always stoked.

She was always willing to help others or strike up a conversation with anyone. Verna enjoyed her polkas and spent many Thursday evenings dancing at the Eagles open mic night in Ontonagon. Along with her sister, Mary she drove to the former televised Finland Calling shows in person. She would often walk across M-64 to be the self-appointed welcome wagon for the Green Park. She enjoyed a good fish fry, bingo and playing cards with her friends and attending the high school basketball games.

She is preceded in death by her husband, Walter (2010); mother-in-law and father-in-law, Hilma E. Hibbeln (1997) and John C. Hibbeln (1967); sister, Mary Kushnir (2017); brother, Robert Kangas (2019); and son-in-law, Robert Waudby (2016), in addition to brothers-in-law and sisters-in-laws, Raymond Hibbeln (Shirley) and Donald Hibbeln (Jennifer).

She is survived by her daughter, Sheryl Doreen Waudby (Daniel Berry) of Marquette; sons, Bernard Walter Hibbeln (Becky Rigoni) of Ironwood, and Michael James Hibbeln (Trillium) of Krakow, Poland; her grandchildren, Steven Charles Waudby (Tracy) of Marquette, Neil Robert Waudby (Samantha) of Deerfield, Illinois, Lucas Yon Hibbeln of Rotterdam, Netherlands, Sofina Lys Hibbeln of Phoenix, Arizona; and great granddaughter, Norah Elaine Waudby of Deerfield, born Aug. 5, 2025. She is also survived by numerous nieces, nephews and other relatives.

Visitation will be at Cane Funeral Home on Sunday, Oct. 26, 2025, from 6-8 p.m. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Monday, Oct. 27, 2025, at the Holy Family Catholic Church in Ontonagon at 11 a.m. with visitation from 10-11 a.m. Father Michael Jacobus will be the celebrant. Burial will be at the Holy Family Catholic Cemetery in Ontonagon.

If desired, the family has suggested memorials gifts made to the Ontonagon County Cancer Association at www.ontctycancer.org or Little Brothers Friends of the Elderly (LBFE) at www.lbfemichigan.org.

Cane Funeral Home is assisting the family with arrangements.