Theodore Fornetti

Dr. Theodore B. Fornetti, 91, of Iron Mountain, passed away on Monday, February 25, 2013 at his home. He was born April 19, 1921 in Iron Mountain, son of the late Anton and Angeline (Carollo) Fornetti. Ted graduated from Kingsford High School in 1939 and was a lifelong resident of the area. Following graduation, he attended Marquette University School of Dentistry in Milwaukee, WI and obtained his Doctorate Degree in 1944. Ted was a U.S. Navy veteran and was stationed at various bases in the states during WWII. He re-enlisted during the Korean Conflict and eventually was honorably discharged with the rank of Lieutenant. Ted married Eleanor Campagnola on July 3, 1944 at St. Mary Queen of Peace Catholic Church in Kingsford. He started his career in dentistry traveling to schools throughout northern Dickinson County to provide students with dental care. Ted went into private practice in 1948 which he continued until his retirement in 1980. For a few years following his retirement, Ted and his wife Eleanor volunteered their time to perform dental procedures on patients at St. Jude's hospital on the Island of St. Lucia. Ted and Eleanor were generous, community minded individuals, instrumental in the formation of Bay West College. They were also an integral part of helping to secure the land to build the current Carmelite Monastery. Ted was a faithful member of Immaculate Conception Catholic Church and the Holy Name Society. He served as past president of both the Cloverland Dental Assoc. and the Rotary Club. Ted was an avid outdoorsman and enjoyed hunting, fishing and spending time at camp. Over the years, he and his family planted thousands of trees at their camp and other properties in Dickinson County. Ted also enjoyed tinkering in his garage and most of all, spending time with family and friends. Ted is survived by his wife of 68 years, Eleanor; five children, Judy (Don) Angera, Ted J. (Mary) Fornetti and Tony (Darlene) Fornetti, all of Iron Mountain, Tish (Don) Guinter of Lake Zurich, IL and John (Terese) Fornetti of Iron Mountain; 13 grandchildren, Jeff (Laura) Angera of Mt. Pleasant, Carissa (Don) Mahoney of Cincinnati, OH, Ted A. (Kristy) Fornetti, Paul (Angela) Fornetti and Kathryn (Adam) Husing, all of Iron Mountain, Nick (Kortnee) Fornetti of Kingsford, Andrea (Benjamin) Fornetti-Wilson of Paris, IL, Greg Guinter of Chicago, Mark Guinter of Lake Zurich, Daniel (Mary) Fornetti of St. Louis, MO, David Fornetti of Milwaukee and Julia and Peter Fornetti, both of Iron Mountain; 19 great grandchildren and several nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by two brothers, David and Michael Fornetti. The funeral liturgy will be on Thursday at 11:00am at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Iron Mountain. Msgr. James Kaczmarek will offer the Mass of Christian Burial. Burial will be in the Iron Mountain Cemetery Park. Ted's grandsons will serve as pallbearers. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Carmelite Monastery or Bay West College. Condolences may be expressed to the family of Theodore Fornetti online at www.ernashfuneralhomes.com. The family has entrusted the Erickson-Rochon and Nash Funeral Home of Iron Mountain with the funeral arrangements.

Theodore Fornetti

February 25, 1922 - February 25, 2013