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Obituaries

Thomas W. Thatcher

Tom Thatcher, 70, of Gaylord, died September 4, 2025 at home with his wife and best dog, Bo, by his side. Tom was born to James and Imogene Thatcher, August 29, 1955 in Alpena. Tom is survived by his wife Cherri and son Brett of Mass., siblings JoAnna (Bob) Carr, NC, Jim (Sherry) Thatcher, Alpena, Julie (Andy) Przeslawski, Alpena, Lorie (Darnell) McConnell, Alpena, Sara (Pilo) Pena, SD, and sister-in-law Nancy Thatcher, Alpena. Tom was preceded in death by his parents and brother Bob Thatcher. Tom has been taken for cremation. No further arrangements have been made at this time.

Mabel Townsend

Mabel Violete Townsend, 93, of Alpena, passed away Wednesday, August 6, 2025, at MyMichigan Medical Center Alpena. Mabel Violete Liske was born September 28, 1931, in Alpena County to the late Albert and Amelia (Kihn) Liske on the family farm which she was proud of. She graduated from Alpena ...

John Warren McConnell

John Warren McConnell, 74, of Alpena, passed away Friday, September 5, 2025, at his home. John was born in Alpena on November 6, 1950, to the late John and Ethelen (Blackwell) McConnell. John worked for the City of Alpena’s DPW and later was its director. John enjoyed walking, biking, ...

Mary Jo Browne

Browne, Mary Jo, age 91, of Golden Valley, MN. Preceded in death by her parents Dr. Wilfred and Florence(Sellman) Rowell, her beloved husband, Donald, and their daughter, Mary Kathleen (Kathy). Survived by her sons and daughters-in-law, Stuart and Mun-Hyon, Steven and Paige; grandchildren, ...

Steven Speaks

Steven C. Speaks, a beloved husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, brother, educator, and friend, passed away peacefully on September 1, 2025, in Alpena, MI, due to complications of Alzheimer's. Born on September 2, 1943, in Mt. Vernon, OH, Steve was a beacon of knowledge and ...

Michael J. Sokol

Michael Joseph Sokol (Sokolowski), age 67, was born in Detroit, on December 19, 1957 and raised in Alpena, Michigan. Michael passed away surrounded by his loving family at his home in Daytona Beach, Florida, on June 13, 2025. As a child he enjoyed playing baseball, and football, listening ...