Keweenaw Report Your Source for Local News and Sports
Superior, WI: Lester “Butch” Nettell, 69, of Superior, Wisconsin, formerly of the Copper Country, passed away on Valentine’s Day, Sunday, February 14, 2021 at St. Mary’s Hospital in Duluth, Minnesota after a lingering illness.
He was born in Hancock on October 17, 1951 the son of the late Lester R. and Marion L. (Cassibo) Nettell and he attended Houghton Schools. In his early years he was employed at the Portage Lake Sewage Plant in Hancock, and then for many years he worked at Neil’s Taxi Service in Hancock. He also worked at Walmart in Houghton for several years and did odd jobs such as lawn care, snow shoveling and painting. He was proud to be a firefighter for much of his life, serving at the Hurontown, Houghton, and Quincy-Franklin-Hancock Townships fire departments.
Butch was first married to Patricia Hocking. After the end of that marriage he was married to Peggy Kokkonen in July of 1991.
Butch loved watching the ore boats whenever he could, enjoyed family reunion trips to Isle Royale on the Isle Royale Queen, enjoyed hunting and fishing, and he especially enjoyed hockey and watching his kids and grand kids as they played hockey. He would often visit friends as patients at the Houghton County Medical Care Facility.
Besides his parents, he was also preceded in death by a sister, Althea Immonen. He is survived by his wife, Peggy of Superior; his children: Justin (Tammy) Nettell, Patrick (Tracy Immonen) Nettell, Michael Nettell, Jordan Saterstadt, Adam Kokkonen, Cevin (Kylie Parsons) Nettell, and Brookelinn Nettell; and his grandchildren Dominick, Dylan, Noah, Raymond, Austin, Lily, Adalynn, and Matthew.
A gathering of family and friends will be held at the Hancock Beach Pavilion on Friday, July 2, 2021 from 2 until 6 PM. Please bring your favorite dish to pass.
His family would like to thank the Superior Fire Department, First Responders, and Paramedics, and the doctors and nurses at Saint Mary’s Hospital in Duluth.
Memorials in lieu of flowers, please send donations to his family in care of Peggy Nettell, 1217 North 14th Street, Superior, WI 54880 to help with funeral and other final expenses.
The O’Neill-Dennis Funeral Home of Hancock is in charge of local arrangements. Please go to www.oneilldennisfh.com to leave online condolences.
