William L. Calcari

Bill was born Dec. 8, 1934, on the family farm in Merriman. He was proud to always tell people he was born in a barn. Son of the Late Henry James Calcari and Alice (Collins) Calcari, Bill leaves behind one sister, Margaret Ida Calcari “Mickey” Fezatt.

He married Josephine Catherine Palluconi on Aug. 30, 1958, at the Immaculate Conception Church in Iron Mountain. They were married one month shy of their 67th wedding anniversary. He always was happy to tell people, “Even the prisoners get out for good behavior before that!”

He and his wife had two children, Lou Ann (Randy) Duval and Mary Ann (Chris) Hofer, and two grandchildren, Joe and Nicci Hofer.

Bill learned to be a hard worker growing up on the family farm on highway M-95, milking cows, picking thousands of rocks and driving a tractor at the age of 4. The day after graduation, his father saw to it that he had a job at Kingsford Chemical working on the line, sewing up the charcoal briquette bags. He would come home black and dirty each day for years. One day Josie said to him, “Bill, how about taking the civil service test for the city of Iron Mountain?” which he did, and passed, and began his 30-year career at the city; he retired in 1990 being the street foreman.

He also spent 12 years on the city council. During his time working at the city, he came across an ad for a class in upholstery for a Mr. Edgar Richards and enrolled. Mr. “Bud” Richards saw that he had a knack for it, so he approached him and asked if he would want to do an apprenticeship with him and help him at his upholstery shop. Bill agreed and began working at the shop three nights per week after working his shift at the city. When he came home from work at 5:30 p.m., he would eat supper and head to the basement where he upholstered furniture for family and friends and customers for many years. He also had several machines in the basement where he sharpened hand and circular saws for many local carpenters and friends. In his spare time, he had a workshop and continued to make oak furniture for his family and grandchildren and also many wonderful Christmas decorations and cutouts on his scroll saw.

In between all of his work, he always made time each weekend to take his family camping and fishing while his children were growing up. Bill worked three jobs to provide for his family and never once complained. He was never idle, and he always made sure he used every minute possible in his days. His generosity to his daughters to help remodel, paint, lay flooring and carpeting, hang pictures, new lighting, ceiling fans and curtains was tremendous. This was especially helpful to a daughter operating Duval’s Resort, in which he was the backbone in remodeling. He and his wife worked for over 30 years helping clean and do yard work and laundry.

He also helped saw lumber, dig up septic tanks, build kitchen and bathroom cabinetry for the cabins, lay flooring and carpeting, and fix everything that was broken. He also would help anyone in the neighborhood with fixing anything that was broken.

His smile was infectious, and he loved making people laugh. His generosity to family, friends and people in the community will be greatly missed.

Visitation will be held from 9 to 11 a.m. Wednesday, July 23, at the Erickson-Rochon & Nash Funeral Home in Iron Mountain, followed by a service at 11 a.m. at the funeral home. Pastor Jim Danielson will officiate.

Burial at Iron Mountain Cemetery Park will follow the service, with a luncheon afterwards back at the funeral home.

Condolences to the family of William Lee Calcari may be expressed online at www.ernashfuneralhomes.com.

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