Ishpeming – Dr. Jacob A. "Jack" Bietila, age 79, longtime Ishpeming Dentist, of 491 Deer Lake Rd. Ishpeming passed away on Sunday November 30, 2014 at UP Health System – Marquette while in the loving presence of his family.

Jack was born April 28, 1935 in Ishpeming, MI to the late Jacob A. "Ansi" and Selma "Sally" (Abramson) Bietila. He was a graduate of the Ishpeming High School, Class of 1953. Jack then attended Northern Michigan University prior to transferring to the University of Michigan where he graduated with his Doctorate Degree in Dentistry. Dr. Bietila practiced Dentistry in Ishpeming for 32 years, retiring in 1990. He was a member of the Independent Apostolic Lutheran Church in Negaunee.

Jack enjoyed Ski Jumping in his younger years and was named an alternate for the US Olympic Ski Team of 1960 which competed in Squaw Valley, CA. He was a member of the Ishpeming Ski Club. Jack had also been a member of the Ishpeming Noon and Pioneer Kiwanis Clubs at various points in his life. He enjoyed the outdoors, especially hunting and fishing along with passing his time by doing watercolor paintings and woodcarvings. He and his wife Fay enjoyed traveling, and had wintered in Green Valley, AZ since 1991.

Survivors include his wife of 50 years, Fay D. Bietila of Ishpeming; 4 children – Jay (Sonya) Bietila of Gainsville, FL, Jaclyn (Mark) Ketola of Ishpeming, Bret (Karen) Bietila of Houston, TX and Betsy (David) Stuebe of Reesevillle, WI; 8 grandchildren – Kaitlyn (DJ) Mattson, Jordyn Ketola, Carolina Pereira, Triston Wright, Christopher Wright, Jacob Stuebe, Brendan Bietila and Joshua Stuebe; along with an expected great grandchild and a host of brothers and sisters in faith.

The family will greet relatives and friends from 4 until 7pm on Wednesday December 3, 2014 at the Bjork & Zhulkie Funeral Home in Ishpeming, and again on Thursday December 4, 2014 at the Independent Apostolic Lutheran Church, Co. Rd. 492, Negaunee, from 9:30 – 11:00am. Funeral services will follow at 11:00am on Thursday at the Independent Apostolic Lutheran Church with Dan Hintsala to officiate. Interment will take place at the Ishpeming Cemetery. Pallbearers will be Arnold & Norman Abramson, Len Bietila, Larry Larson, Dean Lucarelli & Pete Peterson.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to the Independent Apostolic Lutheran Church, PO Box 122, Negaunee, MI or to a charity of one's choice.

The funeral service recording, when it becomes available, can be found here .