Edward ‘Steve’ Simbob

He was born August 25, 1930, in Alpha, the son of Stanley and Sophie (Ball) Simbob. He graduated in 1948 from Alpha Porter School. After graduation he worked in Chicago, until being drafted in 1952 during the Korean War where he served as a corporal in the U.S. Army Medical Corp. 28th Division, being honorably discharged in 1954.

On Oct. 1, 1955, Ed married Margaret Ann Bonetti of Kingsford, at Our Saviour’s Lutheran Church in Iron Mountain. They made their home in Chicago and Waukegan, Ill. where Ed worked for Frank G. Hough Co. in Libertyville, Ill. They moved back to the Iron Mountain area in 1957 when Ed was briefly employed by Lake Shore, Inc. and then spent the next 36 1/2 years with Cummins Diesel in Iron Mountain, retiring in 1995.

Ed was an avid blueberry picker, picking as many as 24 quarts in a day s time. He enjoyed fishing with his son, Brian, and father-in-law, Robert S. Hill. He and his son took several trips to Canada, enjoying great catches of trout there.

In 2006, Ed met a dear friend, Zig Bonkowski. The two of them formed the E-Z Duo, playing for 12 years in area nursing homes, Family Ties, and wherever the occasions called for them to play. Zig played the concertina and Ed played the guitar, making for many happy hours of music to the joy of all who heard them.

Ed spent many retirement hours in his basement workshop uniquely creating decor with antlers, incorporating mirrors in horse collars and hames, designing driftwood and antler lamps, and doing some taxidermy on fish he had caught. He was extremely artistically talented.

Ed was a member of Our Saviour s Lutheran Church in Iron Mountain and a former member of Calvary Lutheran Church in Quinnesec and First Lutheran Church of Iron Mountain, having been active as a Eucharist Minister for over 20 years and having served on church councils. Ed was a member of the Finnish-American Raja Ryma Club and the American Legion of Kingsford.

He is survived by his loving wife of 68 years, Marge; his son, Brian (Margie) Simbob of Kingsford two daughters, Loretta (Paul) Dzik of Mesa, Ariz., and Amy (Christopher) Lewis of Coleman, Wis.; a sister, Sharon (Michael) Feldhausen of Iron Mountain; sisters-in-law, Marlene Simbob of Crystal Falls, Lannie Berg of Escanaba, Dolores Hill of Kingsford, and Anna West and Vera Felix of Stockton, Calif.; three grandchildren, Julie Simbob of Bakersfield, Calif., Janice Simbob of Oakland Park, Fla., and Tony Dzik of Bath, Mich.; two great-grandchildren, Aneesa Johnson and Jaxin Widener; and several nieces and nephews.

Along with his parents, he is preceded in death by a sister, Estelle “Lolly” Beck of Freeport, Ill.; twin brothers, Alex and Julius Simbob of Crystal Falls, brother, Norbert (Joe) Berg of Escanaba, and brothers-in-law, Louis J. Bonetti and Robert A. Hill.

Visitation will be held from 10:30 a.m. to noon on Saturday, Aug. 17, at Our Saviour s Lutheran Church followed by a memorial service at noon at the church. Rev. Dr. Nicholas Hopman will officiate. Burial will be in the Breitung Township Cemetery in Quinnesec.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations be made in Edward’s name to Our Saviour s Lutheran Church or the Iron Mountain VA hospice fund.

Condolences may be expressed to the family of Edward Steve Simbob online at www.ernashfuneralhome.com.

The family has entrusted the Erickson-Rochon & Nash Funeral Home of Iron Mountain with the arrangements.