Ronald E. Miilu
MASS CITY — Ronald E. Miilu, age 90, of Mass City died peacefully at the home he shared with his son, where he had been under the care of Regional Hospice.
Ron was born May 6, 1935 in Pequaming, to the late Loretta (Maher) and Edwin “Eppie” Miilu. His mother having died when Ronnie was a baby, he was raised in Pequaming by his grandparents, Sam and Emelia (Johnson) Miilu (shortened from Miiluniemi upon arrival in the US). Ronnie started school in Pequaming, speaking Finnish, and later attended school in L’Anse, graduating in 1953. His love for and vivid memories of Pequaming and the people who lived there never left him.
In the 1950s, Ronnie sailed and worked on the ore boats on Lake Superior. He met Cassie Uotila of Mass City, before she was allowed to date; eventually they did date and were married on January 24, 1959.
Ron worked at White Pine Copper Company until it closed and then took up a new career: providing daycare for the grandkids, whom he loved with all his heart. Ron loved kids (especially babies), very hot saunas, silly jokes, dogs, classic country music, the Detroit Tigers and Red Wings and, particularly, the Lions. He never did get his long-awaited Lions’ Super Bowl.
Cassie died in 2022; she and Ron had been married for 63 years. Ronnie is survived by their children: Kay (Bill) Tislar of Twin Lakes, Mary (John) Wagner of Mass City, and Jim Miilu of Mass City. He is also survived by their grandchildren: Cassandra Wagner (Scott Gibbs) of Hancock, Ronnie Wagner (Courtney Karttunen) of Ontonagon, and John (Bailee) Wagner of Mass City (parents of Ron’s first great-grandchild, who will arrive soon). Other survivors include his aunt Kathleen Westberg of St Paul, Minnesota, sisters-in-law Sandra Uotila and Fran Anttila of Mass City and many nieces, nephews, and cousins.
He was predeceased by his Miilu and Maher grandparents, parents and in-laws, two sisters and their husbands (Joyce and Ed Taipalus and Judy and Ed Testen), brother-in-law Mike Uotila, nephew Alan Taipalus, and numerous aunts and uncles.
In accordance with Ronnie’s wishes, no formal services will be held. The family would like to thank Regional Hospice for their professional and compassionate assistance in making a difficult journey a bit easier. We also thank Cane Funeral Home, Mike Kocher, and Greg Tarnowski.
Our Dad was a kind, loyal, and loving person, and a good man, which is high praise in these times. We leave him with these words: me rakastamme sinua niin paljon. We love you so much, Dad.
Cane Funeral Home is assisting the family with arrangements.