Obituaries


Aaron Thomas Mika, age 29, of Marengo, WI, passed away on October 23, 2021 near Marengo. His sister, Aleah, was with him.

Aaron was born in Ashland, Wisconsin to Robert and Sally Mika on March 13, 1992. As a young boy, Aaron was an avid investigator of all his world had to offer. He truly enjoyed discovering how things worked and what he could create by putting things together. Aaron was an active member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints and participated in scouting, 4H and FFA. He showed cattle and raised a Grand Champion steer. Besides working on the family farm he had several jobs as a teenager, including dressing as Smokey Bear at the Great Lakes Visitor Center. He attended and graduated from Ashland High School. During his college years, he worked for Foth on the Lakeshore Restoration project in Ashland. Aaron graduated from the University of Minnesota-Duluth with a degree in Civil Engineering. He spent several years at engineering firm TKDA and became a licensed professional engineer. He also pursued commercial and flight instructor certification. Since 2020 he has worked as a flight instructor and float plane pilot in California and Alaska. Aaron enjoyed flying, building things, riding his motorcycle, and going on adventures. He was kind, generous, thoughtful, and lots of fun in his relationships with his family and friends.

Aaron is preceded in death by grandparents Frank and Sophie Mika, and Brice Bender.

Aaron is survived by his grandmother Laurette Bender of Traverse City, MI; parents Robert and Sally Mika of Marengo, WI; siblings: Jeff (Marty) Mika of Hayward, WI; Marie Hipsher of Janesville, WI; Tyrone (Emily) Stone of West Haven, UT; Victor (Amanda Krueger) Stone of Stevens Point, WI; Paul (Chelsea) Mika of Marengo, WI; Richard (Dayani) Mika of Mosinee, WI; Rosalie (Joel Moschler) Mika of Duluth, MN; and 14 nieces and nephews.

Visitation will be held at 10:00 a.m. before a service at 11:00 on Saturday, October 30, 2021 at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints in Ashland, WI. A private family burial service will follow at Maple Grove Cemetery. Arrangements are made by Mountain Funeral Home.

The family wishes to extend sincere thanks to first responders, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, and Mountain Funeral Home.

 


Aleah Laurette Miller, 21 of Marengo, WI, passed away on October 23, 2021 near Marengo. Her brother, Aaron, was with her.

Aleah was born in Ashland, Wisconsin to Robert and Sally Mika on March 20, 2000.

As a young girl Aleah was interested in many things. She accomplished many projects in 4H and in the youth programs of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. She loved participating in service projects. Aleah loved working with cattle and raised an Ashland County Grand Champion steer. Aleah especially enjoyed being a band and jazz band member. She graduated from Ashland High School. She joined the National Guard, graduating from basic training in October 2018 at Fort Jackson, SC. She was assigned to the Hayward Unit following advanced training. Aleah attended UW-Eau Claire for one semester before completing an eighteen month Church mission to Ogden, Utah. Following her mission she attended school and worked in Rexburg, ID returning home in May of this year. She recently worked at Carlson Rental while attending North Wood Technical College in Ashland in the pre nursing program. Aleah especially enjoyed swimming, snowboarding, and hanging out with family, friends, and her beloved animals.

Aleah was married to the love of her life, Kenneth James Miller, on October 8, 2021.

Aleah is preceded in death by grandparents Frank and Sophie Mika, and Brice Bender.

Aleah is survived by her spouse Kenneth Miller of Marengo, WI; her grandmother Laurette Bender of Traverse City, MI; parents Robert and Sally Mika of Marengo, WI;  siblings: Jeff (Marty) Mika of Hayward, WI; Marie Hipsher of Janesville, WI; Tyrone (Emily) Stone of West Haven, UT; Victor (Amanda Krueger) Stone of Stevens Point, WI; Paul (Chelsea) Mika of Marengo, WI; Richard (Dayani) Mika of Mosinee, WI;  Rosalie (Joel Moschler) Mika of Duluth, MN; and 14 nieces and nephews.

Visitation will be held at 10:00 a.m. before a service at 11:00 on Saturday, October 30, 2021 at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints in Ashland, WI. A private family burial service will follow at Maple Grove Cemetery. Arrangements are made by Mountain Funeral Home.

The family wishes to extend sincere thanks to first responders, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, and Mountain Funeral Home.


Orville “Swede” C. Swanson, age 93 of Ashland, WI passed away Monday, Oct 25, 2021 at Court Manor Health Services in Ashland. Orville was born June 4, 1928 in Sacred Heart, MN the son of Carl and Elna C. (Stam) Swanson.

He and his parents then moved to Mellen, WI. After high school he earned his degree in auto mechanics from Hanson Auto School in Fargo, ND. Shortly thereafter he was drafted into the Army and served as a corporal in the Korean War from 1950 to 1952. Upon his return home, to Mellen, he was employed as an auto mechanic at Minten Motors. In 1953 he was united in marriage to Etta Chozek and they had two sons, James and Randy. Moving to Ashland, he worked at the C. Reiss Coal Co and then Great Lakes Gas, retiring in 1990. Orville’s passion was musky and bass fishing, from Mellen to Fifield, WI on the beautiful lakes and flowages. After the passing of his wife, Etta in 1979, in 1984 he remarried Patricia Cuffle.

Orville is survived by his sons, James (Sandi) of Casper, WY and Randy (Dawn) of Ashland; wife, Patricia of Ashland; grandchildren, Jamie (Christa) Swanson of Casper, WY, Samantha (Jason) Swanson of Texas,  Daren (Victoria) of Cameron, WI,  Eric (Katie) of Ashland and 12 great-grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his parents, wife Etta and grandson, Jeremy.

A special thank you to his neighbors, for conversation and helping hands.

There will be a private family burial in the Mount Hope Cemetery, Highbridge, at a later date.

The Mountain Funeral Home and Cremation Services of Ashland and Mellen, WI is assisting the family.

Online condolences for Orville’s family may be left at MountainFuneralHomes.com.