Obituary: James Bennetts Boggio

As received from the Erickson Crowley Peterson Funeral Home:

JAMES BENNETTS BOGGIO passed peacefully in his home at Eagle Harbor, Michigan, on August 30, 2022, while surrounded by his loving family.  Jim Boggio always seemed larger than life.  He was a fast-moving, hard–working lover of: people, fun, elaborate practical jokes and everything Eagle Harbor.  He touched many lives and leaves the world a better place for his having been here.

Jim was born on October 16, 1934, in Laurium, Michigan.  He worked at his father’s store until his family moved to Detroit during WWII where he stocked groceries and set bowling pins.  Upon returning to Laurium; he worked at the Miscowaubik Club while attending Calumet High School, graduating in 1954.  During his years attending Northern Michigan University (NMU) he was a salesman at Haas clothing, catered for the Miscowaubik Club, handled red hot copper wire at Foley Copper, tended bar at the Keweenaw Mountain Lodge, worked in a smelter, delivered mail, worked in a lumber yard and helped build Osceola Mine #13.  After having been graduated from NMU in 1959 with a Bachelor’s Degree in Business, he became a coordinator for the 1960 census, first in the UP and then in the Bronx, New York.  He taught social studies, coached junior varsity basketball and ran the intramural program at Robichaud Junior High School from fall of 1960 to 1962.  On December 27, 1960, he married Patricia Anne Morgan in Birmingham, Alabama.  They were both blessed with 61 happy years together.  From 1962 to 1965 he taught history, geography and math at Lake Linden High School and coached basketball.  In 1963 he bought Harbor Lights Resort in Eagle Harbor, Michigan.  In the late 1960’s he was a promoter and director of the International Frisbee Tournament, held in Eagle Harbor, under the alias of Harvey J. Kukuk.

He was employed at Michigan Technological University working for the Civil Defense Education Program and then for the Continuing Education Department.  Subsequently he worked for the Copper Country Intermediate School District, the Michigan Department of Health, and bought Bill and Lee’s Lapidary and an apartment building in Calumet.  In addition to all this in 1972 Jim went to the Michigan State Capitol and secured a grant that allowed the Calumet Theater to remain open, overseeing a major renovation that was completed in 1975.  Jim moved his family to Marquette, Michigan, from 1974 to 1984 where he was a partial owner of NWR Electronics.  In Marquette he also took a job as a salesman for Industrial Railway Supply and worked for the Marquette-Alger Intermediate School District until he founded his own company – Gold Eagle Supply.  In 1984 he sold his successful company and moved back to the Copper Country to lead the Development Office at Suomi College.  Later he earned his Real Estate license and worked for the Leveque Agency.  In 1992 Jim was elected to the position of Eagle Harbor Township Supervisor, where he served for nine years.  Upon his resignation he was appointed Deputy Supervisor for three years.

Jim was blessed with an incredible number of close friends and also served the Copper Country that he dearly loved in many ways, including: as a Director of the Copper Country Kiwanis Club,  on the CLK National Historical Park Board, on the Keweenaw County Historical Society Board of Trustees, on the Quincy Mine Hoist Board, as a Vestry member for St. Peter’s by-the-Sea community Church, as a member of the U.P. Association of Realtors, elected as a Keweenaw County Commissioner, elected to the CLK School Board, as the Chairman of the Keweenaw County Republican Party, as the Regional President of the Michigan Education Association.  He also served on the Board of Directors for the U.P. Tourist Council, and also served on the Board of Directors for the Keweenaw Chamber of Commerce.

Mr. Boggio was the only child of Peter Laurence and Dorothy Bennetts Boggio and is survived by his wife Anne Morgan Boggio, his four children: Phillip (Jane) Boggio, Elizabeth (Robert) Hathaway, James (Sandra) Boggio, Richard (Jennifer) Boggio; and eight grandchildren: Daniel (Kelley) Boggio, Audrey (Daniel) Mitchell, Joshua Burgos, Alexis (Marshal) Reeves, Thomas McDonald, Aaron Boggio, Dominic Boggio and Carsyn Boggio.

A funeral service will be held at St. Peter’s by-the-Sea in Eagle Harbor on September 3, 2022, at 2:37 PM.  A celebration in tribute to Jim Boggio will immediately follow at his home, 202 South Street, Eagle Harbor, Michigan.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorial gifts be given to the charity of one’s choice, or to Sunset Harbor Homes; 104 Cherry Lane; Ontonagon, MI; 49953 (sunsetharborhomes.org).

The Erickson Crowley Peterson Funeral Home is assisting the family with the arrangements.

Online condolences can be left for the family at ericksoncrowleypeterson.net