Losing someone is hard. Then comes the paperwork, the planning, and the simple, heavy task of letting the world know they’re gone. If you are looking for obituaries in Marinette County WI, you’ve probably realized it isn't as centralized as it used to be. Back in the day, you just picked up the local paper and flipped to the back. Now? It’s a mix of legacy print, funeral home websites, and social media posts that disappear in an hour. It’s frustrating.
Honestly, the search usually starts with a specific name and a prayer that the local digital archives are up to date. Marinette County is a unique spot. It’s the "Waterfall Capital of Wisconsin," spanning from the city of Marinette up through Crivitz, Wausaukee, and Niagara. Because the county is so spread out, where an obituary is posted often depends entirely on which small town the person called home.
The Go-To Sources for Obituaries in Marinette County WI
The heavy hitter is still the EagleHerald. Based in the city of Marinette, it’s the primary daily newspaper for the region. Most families still opt for a traditional print notice here because it’s what the community reads. However, there’s a catch. Newspapers charge by the line. Because of that, you’ll sometimes find a "death notice"—which is just the bare-bones facts—in the paper, while the full, beautiful story of someone’s life is hosted for free on a funeral home’s website.
Don't just check the paper. You have to look at the local funeral homes directly. They are the actual gatekeepers of this information. In the Marinette and Peshtigo area, Hansen-Onion-Martell Funeral Home and Berth & Rosenthal are staples. If the person lived further north toward Crivitz or Wausaukee, you’re likely looking at Rhodes-Charapata Funeral Home.
They usually post the full obituary online before it even hits the Sunday paper. It's just faster.
Why the Location Matters
Marinette County is huge. If someone passed away in Niagara, they might actually be listed in a Michigan newspaper like the The Iron Mountain Daily News instead of a Wisconsin one. The state line is just a bridge away. People live in one state and work in the other. Their lives are tangled across the border. If you can’t find a record in Marinette, look across the river to Menominee, Michigan.
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Digital Archives and Finding Older Records
Searching for someone who passed away years ago? That’s a different beast. For historical obituaries in Marinette County WI, the Stephenson Public Library in Marinette is your best friend. They have microfilm. Yes, the old-school stuff. They also provide access to databases like Ancestry.com or HeritageQuest if you are physically in the building.
Sometimes, you’ll get lucky with Find A Grave. It’s a volunteer-run site. It isn't an official record, but people often upload photos of headstones and transcriptions of old obituaries from the 1940s or 50s. It’s a bit of a gamble, but when it pays off, it’s a goldmine.
The Marinette County Historical Society also maintains records, though they are more focused on the pioneers and the logging era. If you’re looking for a great-great-grandfather who worked the sawmills, they might have a lead. For anything from the last 20 years, Google is usually better, provided you use quotes around the name.
The Cost of Saying Goodbye in Print
People are often shocked by the price. Placing a full obituary with a photo in a daily newspaper can cost hundreds of dollars. It’s why you’re seeing a shift. Families are now writing shorter notices for the print edition—basically just the "who, when, and where"—and then linking to a Facebook memorial page for the "why" and the "how."
It’s a bit sad, really. The long-form obituary is becoming a luxury.
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But there’s a benefit to the digital shift. Online guestbooks allow people from across the country to leave a note. In a place like Marinette County, where many kids move away to Green Bay or Milwaukee for work, those digital spaces are the only way the "old neighborhood" can offer condolences.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Checking only one town: People in Wausaukee might use a funeral home in Coleman.
- Forgetting the maiden name: In older records, women were often listed as "Mrs. John Smith." It’s frustrating for genealogy, but it’s the reality of the archives.
- Ignoring the "Border Effect": Again, check Menominee, MI. It’s basically the same community.
How to Write a Local Obituary
If you’re the one tasked with writing, keep it simple but personal. Mention the things that matter to folks up here. Did they love fishing the Menominee River? Were they a lifelong Packers fan? Did they spend their winters on a snowmobile? These details make an obituary feel like a person rather than a police report.
Standard format usually goes:
- Full name and age.
- Date and place of passing.
- A brief life story (school, career, military service).
- Family members (survived by and preceded in death by).
- Service details (be specific about the church or funeral home).
Most funeral directors in Marinette County will help you draft this. They’ve done it thousands of times. They know the word counts and the formatting requirements for the local rags. Trust their expertise.
Useful Resources for Your Search
If you’re currently looking for information, here is a quick list of places to check.
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Newspapers:
The EagleHerald is the primary source for the southern county. The Peshtigo Times covers the central area and often has more "small-town" feel notices. For the northern border, check the Iron Mountain Daily News.
Funeral Homes:
- Hansen-Onion-Martell (Marinette)
- Rhodes-Charapata (Crivitz, Coleman, Lena, Oconto)
- Roubal Funeral Home (Wausaukee)
- Berth & Rosenthal (Peshtigo)
Public Records:
The Marinette County Register of Deeds handles death certificates. This isn't an obituary—it's a legal document. You’ll need this for closing bank accounts or settling an estate. It’s located in the courthouse on Hall Avenue.
Moving Forward With Your Search
Finding an obituary is often the first step in a long process of grieving and logistics. If you are doing this for genealogical research, start with the library's digital portal. If you are looking for service information for a recent passing, go straight to the funeral home websites first. They are updated much faster than the daily paper’s website.
Once you find the information, take a screenshot or print it out. Digital links break. Local newspapers change ownership and delete their archives. If it’s a family member, you’ll want that text saved somewhere safe.
For those settling an estate in the area, your next move after finding the obituary is usually contacting the Marinette County Courthouse to discuss probate. But for today, just find the information you need to say goodbye. The rest can wait until tomorrow.
Check the EagleHerald’s "Obituaries" section online around 10:00 AM—that's typically when the day's notices are fully synced. If nothing shows up there, a quick search of the person’s name followed by "funeral home Marinette" is your best secondary bet.