Harlin "Shag" Shagonabe

Harlin “Shag” Shagonabe, age 84, of Hessel, Michigan, died Wednesday, March 14, 2012 in Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan. He was born May 29, 1927 at Camp Houke, Michigan, a Native American community. He lived in Hart, Michigan until age thirteen when he attended a Native American High School in South Dakota. Shortly after graduation, he joined the United States Navy. While on shore in Boston, he was hospitalized where one of his nurses was Veronica “Ronnie”, whom he later married. They lived in Shelbyville, Michigan for many years and Shag worked at the paper mill in Parchment, Michigan. They moved to Hessel in 1969 and Ronnie died in 1973, after nearly 25 years of marriage. On March 16, 1974, Shag married Betty Belinda “Linda” Yarbrough in Howard City, Michigan. They made their home in Hessel and Shag worked for United States Steel as a Seaman on Great Lakes freighters. After working for thirteen years as a seaman, he “retired”, and worked as a cook in the deli at the casino in St. Ignace and then as a grounds keeper at the Hessel Ridge Golf Course. Shag originally owned much of the land on which the golf course had been built so he was literally working in his own back yard. Shag was a lifetime member of the American Legion and a member of the Northhills Baptist Church in Hessel. Shag enjoyed building wood furniture and other woodworking, playing the slots and lottery, and most of all, fishing, all seasons of the year. He loved any time he could spend with his family. Shag is survived by his wife, Linda; daughter, Tonya (Chad) Niemi of Iron Mountain, Michigan; son, Harlin Thomas (Candice) Shagonabe of Hessel; daughter-in-love, Patsy (Rudy) Alera of Lakeview, Michigan; and grandsons, Marearlcel Shagonabe-Johnson and Aiden Niemi. Shag was preceded in death by his first wife, Ronnie and by one brother, Frank Shagonabe. Services will be held Sunday, March 18 at Reamer Galer Funeral Home, 24549 S. M-129 in Pickford, Michigan. A gathering time will be held from 12:30 P.M. until 2:00 P.M. A Memorial Service will begin at 2:00 P.M. with Michael McDermott conducting the service. Inurnment will be in East Martin Cemetery in Portage, Michigan.

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Harlin "Shag" Shagonabe

May 29, 1927 - March 14, 2012