Michigamme - James W. Howe, age 77, of 121 E. Lake St. Michigamme, went to be with the Lord on Saturday, January 10, 2015 at 5:49pm while in the loving care of his family and the U.P. Home Health and Hospice, with his granddaughter Ailee saying night-night Papa as he slept away.

James was born April 10, 1937 in Michigamme the son of the late Wesley and Eleanor (DeRoche) Howe. He was a proud lifelong Michigamme resident and a graduate of the Michigamme High School, Class of 1955. He married the former Jean Pelto on June 29, 1957 at the St. Agnes Catholic Church in Michigamme and together they raised four children. James worked for 30 years for the Cleveland Cliffs Iron Co. (Cliffs Natural Resources) as a rotary drill operator starting at the Republic Mine with moves to the Tilden and then the Empire Mine which he retired from in 1995. He always enjoyed his work at the mine and cherished times talking to the guys about their work while out in the community.

Jim was a former member of the St. Agnes Catholic Church in Michigamme and a current member of the Sacred Heart Catholic Church. He was a retired member of the Michigamme Volunteer Fire Dept., and a member of the Champion Lions Club. He will be remembered as one who was always there to give a helping hand, not expecting anything in return. Jim was an avid Green Bay Packers and Detroit Tigers Fan. Jim enjoyed attending his children's and grandchildren's activities and events. He loved to socialize with his friends and family over a good cup of coffee or two...

Survivors include his wife Jean Howe of Michigamme; 4 children – James (Lori) Howe of Negaunee, Jody Howe of Marquette, Janice (Mike Kutchie) Perry of Clarksburg Loc., and Julie (Steve) Kallatsa of Tyrone, GA; a brother John "Jack" (Marian) Howe of Michigamme; 7 grandchildren – Ryan Howe, Jillian Perry, Jennifer (Justin) LePage, Jessica Perry, Jamie Perry, Christopher (Maureen) Kallatsa & Megan (Aidan) Francis; 2 great grandchildren Alden Kallatsa & Ailee LePage with two more on the way; sisters-in-law & brothers-in-law – Betty Howe of Michigamme, Lillian & Dave Meiers of Green Bay, WI, Linda & Jon Koski of Michigamme, Jim Pelto of Ishpeming and Eddie Olson of Michigamme; along with numerous nieces and nephews. Jim was preceded in death by his parents, a brother Myles Howe and a sister Agnes West.

The family will greet relatives and friends from 3:00 – 5:00pm on Wednesday, January 14, 2015 at the Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Champion. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 5:00pm on Wednesday at the Sacred Heart Catholic Church with the Rev. Msgr. Peter Oberto officiating. Inurnment will take place in the spring  at the Lakeview Cemetery in Michigamme.

Pallbearers will be Jerry Platterberg, Jerry Paju, Larry Frisk, Gordon Schultz, Tom Neznanski & Don Moore.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to the Sacred Heart Catholic Church, Memorial Fund or the Michigamme Museum.

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