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As received from the O’Neill-Dennis Funeral Home:
James (Jim) Richard Dionne, 87, of Dollar Bay, MI passed away on Friday, July 29, 2022 at UP Health System – Portage, Hancock, MI. He was born in Hancock, MI on August 2, 1934 to the late George and Victoria (Richards) Dionne. He was a graduate of Hancock High School and was employed by Jim’s Foodmart and JCPenney prior to his retirement. He married Nancy (Gaspardo) Waisanen on June 26, 1970.
Throughout his life, Jim enjoyed several activities such as skiing, hockey, bike riding, gardening, boating, fishing, camping, and tending to his bird feeders. Jim was also interested in meteorology and would spend time observing, documenting, and predicting the weather. If the weather was not cooperative for his outdoor activities, Jim liked to work on projects in his garage including wood working and inventing various gadgets to make work easier or solve problems around the house and yard. Jim also enjoyed visiting with his friends and family. His love for maps, geography, reading, and watching wildlife and geographic documentaries created a wealth of knowledge that he shared with everyone around him. He enjoyed traveling with his wife and children throughout most of the United States including Alaska and Hawaii. He also traveled to Australia, New Zealand, and Mexico. He was very knowledgeable about Copper Country history and could tell you all about your relatives (even the ones you didn’t know you had). Jim enjoyed caring for his many pets throughout the years including his most current cat, Ella.
Jim was preceded in death by his parents, an infant sister, sister Marion (Dionne) Storves, and brothers-in-law Jake Storves and James Gaspardo. He is survived by his wife Nancy of 52 years and four children: Sabrina (Tom Willard) Arceo of East Lansing, MI; Steven (Kim) Waisanen of Big Bend, WI; Karen (Troy) Eddy of Houghton, MI; Jennifer (Joel Keranen) Dionne of Kronenwetter, WI. Also surviving are nine grandchildren: Danielle Hilborn, Kenneth (Jalyn) Walker, Rosemary Walker, Austin Adams, Alexander Waisanen, Andrew Waisanan, Madison Eddy, Morgan Eddy, and Brittany (Evan) Maves; four great -grandchildren: Ella Phelps, Jake Phelps, Jaxson Wilkins and Dawson Maves; sister-in-law Susan Gaspardo; nephew James Storves, and nieces Mary Ellen Lee, Carolyn Dorner, and Joanne Houillon.
There will be a visitation for Jim at the Church of the Resurrection in Hancock on Wednesday, August 3rd from 2:00-3:00pm, followed by a funeral mass at 3:00pm. Immediately following the mass, the family invites friends to join them for refreshments at the church. Memorials in lieu of flowers may be directed to the Copper Country Humane Society, PO Box 453, Houghton, MI 49931.
The O’Neill-Dennis Funeral Home of Hancock is assisting the family with arrangements. To leave online condolences, please go to oneilldennisfh.com.
