Natalie Jurkanis

Community of Houghton, and a former Liminga resident, passed away Thursday, Dec. 4, 2025, at HSHS St. Vincent’s Hospital in Green Bay, Wisconsin.

She was born on Jan. 25, 1940, in Toivola, a daughter of the late Rafael and Sylvia (Perala) Maki. As a child, Natalie was raised in Toivola and was a graduate of the Jeffers High School with the class 1958.

On April 26, 1968, she was united in marriage to Richard “Dick” Jurkanis in Calumet. The couple had made their home in Liminga as they raised their family. On Sept. 23, 2013, Dick preceded Natalie in death.

Natalie enjoyed being a stay-at-home mom raising her boys. As the boys grew, she became a Teacher’s Aide at the E.B. Holman School, working until her retirement in 2000. Natalie truly enjoyed going to work, spending time with the children at the school.

Mrs. Jurkanis was active with the Stanton Senior Citizens, enjoyed trips to the Casino, building puzzles, working word finds puzzles, visiting with friends at Arbor Green, and being with her children and grandchildren.

Preceding her in death were her husband, Richard; her parents; her sisters, Fay Maki and Rachel Wiitala; her sister-in-law, Susie (George) Mencel; and her brothers-in-law, Scott McMillan and Clayton Wiitala.

Surviving are: her sons, Rick and Michele of Green Bay, and Al and Tina of Liminga; her grandchildren, Kassie (Evan) Huhta, Mandie (Kyle) Demers, Allie (Jake) Zerbst, Tori Jurkanis, and Joseph Jurkanis; her great-grandchildren, Henry, Lucy, and Emilia; her brother, John (Cheryl Counley) Maki of Atlantic Mine; her sisters, Cynthia (Ken) Martin of Oakman, Alabama, and Glenda McMillan of Toivola; her brother-in-law, George Mencel of Duluth, Minnesota; numerous nieces, nephews, cousins; and her former sister-in-law, Debra Carey of Channing, Michigan.

A Prayer service for Natalie will be held 12 p.m., Saturday, Dec. 13, 2025, at the Memorial Chapel Funeral & Cremation Service – Mt. View Chapel of South Range with Fr. John Martignon to officiate. Spring burial will be with her husband Richard in the Liminga Cemetery.

Friends may call on Saturday, Dec. 13, 2025, from 10 a.m. until the time of services at the Memorial Chapel Funeral & Cremation Service – Mt. View Chapel of South Range.

To view Natalie’s obituary or to send condolences to the family, please visit www.memorialchapel.net.

The Memorial Chapel Funeral & Cremation Service – Mt. View Chapel of South Range is assisting the family with the arrangements.