Ishpeming – Anita M. Pope, age 83, of 1130 Highland Circle, Apt #1, passed away on Wednesday, June 13, 2018 at the Marquette Co. Medical Care Facility in Ishpeming where she had been a resident for the past 6 weeks.

Anita was born March 9, 1935 in Calumet, MI the daughter of the late Waino and Mayme (Wuokila) Aho.  She moved to the Ishpeming Area in her infancy with her family.  Anita was a graduate of the Ishpeming High School, Class of 1953 and went on to business college at Cleary College in Ann Arbor.  After college she landed her first job in Washington DC working for the United States Navy for a couple of years.  She returned to the Upper Peninsula and was employed first by the Mining Journal and in 1958 took a job at K.I. Sawyer Air Force Base in Civil Service.  Anita used her skills to become the head of base contracting, a position she held until her retirement in 1990.  While in this position, Anita traveled extensively to other Air Bases, giving many speeches dealing with government contracting.  In order to do this, Anita joined Toast Master's International and became a Toast Mistress within that organization.

Anita was a member of the Immanuel Lutheran Church in Negaunee.  She enjoyed golfing at the Wawonowin Country Club, along with local Pool and Bowling Leagues.   Anita had resided in Ishpeming and Negaunee over the years and enjoyed her time spent on Little Perch Lake south of Ishpeming.  She and Buster loved their Winter's spent in Florida.

Survivors include her husband L. Buster Pope of Ishpeming, 4 children – Steven (Donna) Hill of Scarborough, ME, Ronald (Connie) Hill of Little Lake, Kathy (Jerry) Pope-Gaston of Sudbury, OH and Jerry (Amanda) Pope of Ishpeming, brother Gary (Dot) Aho of Golden, CO, 11 grandchildren, 4 great grandchildren, along with special niece Diane Goethe and nephew David Cain.  Anita was preceded in death by her first husband Jerry Hill, sister Shirley Cain and 3 step-children – Mary, Julie and Charlie.

Honoring Anita's wishes, cremation has taken place and the family will hold a private memorial service.

In lieu of other expressions of sympathy, memorials may be directed to the Ishpeming High School Alumni Association, 319 E. Division St., Ishpeming, MI 49849

Anita's obituary may also be viewed at bjorkandzhulkie.com where relatives and friends may leave a note of remembrance.