James Allen "Jim" Wiita

Lake Linden: James Allen “Jim” Wiita, 90, of Lake Linden and Big Traverse, passed away at Aspirus Keweenaw Hospital in Laurium after a stroke, on December 12, 2022.

                Jim was born on June 10, 1932 at Big Traverse, a son of John and Marion (Wuokkila) Wiita.  He graduated from Lake Linden-Hubbell in 1950.  After high school, he served in the U.S. Army as a medic.

                He worked as a commercial fisherman and owned and operated Lake Superior Fisheries in Hancock and James Wiita Fisheries.  He was the last of the original Traverse Fisherman.

                He was married to Eileen Gardner on June 27, 1953 in the Chapel at Saint Joseph’s Church in Lake Linden.

                Jim was a member of Saint Joseph Catholic Church,  the Michigan Fish Producers, and he enjoyed spending time with his coffee group and investment club.

                Jim was always busy with something, work was his hobby.

                He was preceded in death by: his parents, brothers-Jack (June), William (Elaine), Peter (Maxine), and Michael; and brothers-in-law-John and Roy.

                He is survived by: his wife-Eileen; a daughter-Mary (Joe) Butkevicius; 9 grandchildren-Ann-Marie (Zach), James, John, Michael, Joshua, William, Matthew, Molly, and Rita; 2 great-grandchildren-Zoe and Augustine; 2 sisters-Katherine “Kay” and Margaret “Maggie;” along with numerous nieces, nephews, and cousins.

                 The Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 11:00 A.M. on Friday, December 16, 2022 at Saint Joseph Catholic Church in Lake Linden with Fr. Corbin Eddy to celebrate.  Burial will be at the Mount Calvary Cemetery in Lake Linden in 2023.  The Pearce Funeral Home in Lake Linden is in charge of arrangements.

                Online condolences may be left at pearcefuneralhome.com

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