Don D. Angera

He was born Feb. 17, 1942, in Iron Mountain, son of the late Joseph and Tulia (Loia) Angera. Don graduated from Iron Mountain High School in 1960 and has lived in the area most of his life. He proudly served his country in the United States Army and was a veteran of the Vietnam War.

Don graduated from Michigan Tech University in Houghton with a bachelor’s degree in business administration.

Don and Judy were married in 1968 after he completed his military service. They moved to Saginaw, Mich., when he began working for General Motors in the Steering Gear Division as a quality control engineer.

In 1973, he and Judy returned to Iron Mountain to join Joe and Tulia’s family business, Loia Distributing. After his father’s untimely death, Don and his sister, Mary Jo, became the co-owners and operators of Loia Distributing until its sale in 1986.

After selling the family business, he worked at Ranger City Distributing until he retired. Given how much he enjoyed his interactions with customers and co-workers, he continued working part-time for Smith Metal Structures and Bloom Wholesale into retirement.

He was a member of American Martyrs Catholic Church in Kingsford, the American Legion Post 50 and the Northland Beagle Club. Don was also involved as an original member of the Dickinson Area Hockey Association and the Mountain View Ice Arena and was instrumental in the construction of the arena. Don was very involved in Cursillo and Youth Encounter activities.

Don enjoyed many outdoor activities with Judy, including camping, kayaking, bicycling, and cross-country skiing. He loved visiting with friends and family and often said his hobby was “being with people.” He was forever a proud “Italian Yooper,” enjoying all the beauty and serenity that the Upper Peninsula offered.

Don always believed in service for others, volunteering as a Eucharistic Minister at his church, as a Big Brother for the Big Brothers Big Sisters program, serving at various homeless shelters in Milwaukee, assisting with Habitat for Humanity, volunteering with disabled veterans at the VA, and serving as a hospice volunteer.

Don is survived by his wife and best friend of 52 years, Judy; two children, Jeff (Laura) Angera of Mount Pleasant, Mich., and Carissa (Don) Mahoney of Knoxville, Tenn.; five grandchildren Isaac, Jacob, Rena, Tulia, Domenic; and members of a very supportive extended family — Ted (Mary) Fornetti, Tony (Darlene) Fornetti, Tish (Don) Guinter, John (Terese) Fornetti and many loving nieces and nephews.

In addition to his parents, Don was preceded in death by a sister, Mary Jo Angera.

Visitation will be held from 9 until 10:30 a.m. on Thursday, May 13, at the Erickson-Rochon & Nash Funeral Home in Iron Mountain.

Funeral services will follow at 11 a.m. at the American Martyrs Catholic Church in Kingsford. Father Joseph Gouin will offer the Mass of Christian Burial.

A graveside service with military honors will be held at 9 a.m. on Friday, May 14, at Cemetery Park in Iron Mountain. The Uren-Cooper-Johnson American Legion Post 50 will conduct the military honors.

In lieu of flowers, donations in Don’s memory may be made to Bay West College or Light at the Inn Shelter, 120 Odill Drive, Norway, MI 49870.

Condolences to the family of Don Angera may be expressed online at www.ernashfuneralhomes.com.

The family has entrusted the Erickson-Rochon & Nash Funeral Home with the funeral arrangements.