Fishermen's Memorial Dedicated to Locals Lost to Great Lakes

The newly erected Fishermen's Memorial near the boardwalk between the St. Ignace Public Marina and the Wawatam Lighthouse was dedicated during the St. Ignace Fish Feast Saturday, July 28. Pictured are supporters and committee members who helped fund the memorial: (from left) Andy Valentine, Jim Artis, who sculpted the metal whitefish atop the stone memorial, St. Ignace Mayor Paul Grondin, Violet Gustafson, Shirley Bentgen, Ray Halberg, Jim Brown, Paul Gustafson, Steve Grondin, and Eldon Winberg, who donated the masonry work to erect the memorial.

A waterfront memorial paying tribute to the 25 local commercial fishermen who lost their lives in Lake Huron and Lake Michigan was dedicated during the St. Ignace Fish Feast Saturday, July 28.

A few members of the committee that raised funds for the memorial, near the boardwalk between the St. Ignace Public Marina and Watawam Lighthouse, spoke to a large crowd gathered for the dedication.

The memorial features two bronze plaques with names of commercial fishermen who lost their lives while working, topped by a large metal whitefish on a stone foundation.

Reverend Wayne Foote of the Glen Memorial Baptist Church remembered many of the men who perished while fishing in the Great Lakes. He blessed the 25 men whose names are listed, and those who still grieve for the loved ones they lost.

"The waters of the Great Lakes are so beautiful, but yet they are also unforgiving," said Rev. Foote. "Our hearts still grieve for you and your loved ones."

Both St. Ignace Mayor Paul Grondin and City Manager Eric Dodson thanked the fundraising committee for their efforts in completing the project.

The committee, headed by Shirley Bentgen, includes Violet Gustafson, Paul Gustafson, Ray Halberg, Jim Brown, Steve Grondin, and Andy Valentine.

The committee raised an estimated $7,000 to build the memorial.

The men from Mackinac County who have lost their lives while commercial fishing and are memorialized on the monument are:

1851 Michael McCann, 36, Mackinac Island

1936 Louis Hart, 28, Epoufette Robert Goudreau, 33, Epoufette Jim Dishaw, 47, Epoufette

1937 Carl Matson, 28, St. Ignace Ray McLean, 30, St. Ignace

1945 Teddy Paulson, 17, Naubinway

1946 Frank L. Brix, 38, Naubinway

1954

John G. Ellison, 63, St. Ignace Twp.

John J. Ellison, 29, St. Ignace Twp.

1964 Art Stiebe, 31, St. Ignace

1969 Terry Halberg, 16, St.Ignace Melvin Frazier, 51, Naubinway

1977 Alvin Gustafson, 67, St. Ignace Gary Gustafson, 37, St. Ignace

1980 Cliff Bigelow, 22, Epoufette Mike Bigelow, 24, Epoufette

1983

James Converse Jr., 28, Naubinway

Edward Moses, 27, St. Ignace

1986

Edward E. Perkins, 47, Naubinway

Rusty G. King, 31, Naubinway Kirk J. Peterson, 28, Naubinway

1993

Robert Rickley, 23, St. Ignace

Rick Wessel, 35, Mackinac Island

1999 Roy C. Frazier, 25, Naubinway