As received from the Erickson Crowley Peterson Funeral Home. If you have questions about, or potential corrections to the content, please contact the funeral home directly.
UPDATE: A Celebration of Life will be held on Friday July 3, 2026 from 2:00-5:00pm at the L&L Bar on 5th Street in Calumet, Michigan.
Michael was born October 15th, 1944, at Calumet Public Hospital in Laurium, Mi to John Salmela and Isabelle (Korby) Salmela.Michael graduated from Calumet High School class of 1963, immediately following high school he joined the Coast Guard. He served from 1963-1967. After the Coast Guard he attended Michigan Tech University and graduated in 1972 with a BSBA in accounting. After graduating from MTU he followed his brothers to the Milwaukee area to work at A.O. Smith Harvestores. While there, he helped with the youth hockey referee program, he then continued refereeing when he moved back to Copper County in the mid 1970’s.
In 2023 Michael was presented with a Paul Lehto Service award for his many years of officiating hockey in the Copper Country. When he moved back to the Copper Country, he worked at Michigan Tech and then retired from U.P. Engineers and Architects.
Michael was a friend to everyone and a cornerstone of the family. He loved to visit with friends and family and share one of his favorite pastimes of making jam, for which he would pick the berries himself. He enjoyed hunting at Twin Pines Lodge and was the treasurer of the Calumet Keweenaw Sportsman’s Club. He spent a lot of time riding his 4-wheeler and was a member of the Keweenaw ATV club. He enjoyed many saunas at his family home in Centennial Heights until he was admitted to Canal View. In the summer you could often find him on the golf course, and in the winter he would be found cross-country skiing and plowing in his red Dodge truck.
Michael is proceeded in death by his parents, and his nephew Erik Salmela.
Survived by his wife Beth (Poulos) Salmela of 31 years, son Travis (Sherri) Belter and beloved granddaughter Aubrey Belter of Texas. Brothers Allen (Kathrine) Salmela, Roy (Diane) Salmela, Auntie Elaine Kipina & lifelong friend Cukie. As well as having many nephews, nieces, cousins and friends who all had the honor and privilege of calling him Uncle Mikey.
A special thank you to everyone at Canal View who took wonderful care of Uncle Mike. Mike loved being the “supervisor” at the nurse’s station.
Per Michael’s request there will be no funeral, but a Celebration of life will be planned for a later date.
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