This space is dedicated to honoring the lives of our island community members who have passed away. We gather here to share their obituaries and memorials, ensuring their memories, spirits and legacies remain a vibrant and cherished part of our community story.
Steve Gale
Memorial provided by Chris Gale
Steve Gale of Tobin Harbor, Isle Royale, Michigan, and Colorado Springs, Colorado
passed away September 3, 2025. He lived with his wife, Melanie Verce, in Colorado and
spent time at Isle Royale nearly every summer. Never enough time, but every summer
for nearly all of 75 years.
Steve always was a positive and patient person unless it was time to fish. At that point,
time was of the essence and he’d grab the fishing rod, tacklebox and start warming up
the boat. I remember as a young boy going camping in the summer with my parents and
three brothers. Steve was the one most interested in fishing. He had about 10 minutes
of freedom after we arrived at a campsite to try fishing at the stream or lake before our
father would tell him it was time to help set up camp.
From the age of six, he traveled with a fishing rod, set up to fish with about 10 seconds
of assembly time. The amazing thing is that he usually caught a fish. Later in life, he
traveled with golf clubs and a fishing rod in the trunk and used them both as often as he
could. He worked at Rock Harbor Lodge as a fishing guide for five years in the 1970s,
and developed a reputation for being a really good one. He had many customers come
back year after year, and lodge employees gave him a fitting nickname: Kingfish. Some
days he would guide two charters, get off work, and more often that not come down to
the cabin to see if I wanted to go fishing too.
I remember clearly Steve describing the fish he caught back then. They were always
about three feet long as shown by the distance between his two hands held out in front
while describing his fishing success. One time I asked him if that was the biggest or the
smallest fish he caught on the trip that day, and he said, “well, of course it was the
smallest one in the box” with that sideways smile of his. In the early 1980s, he moved to
Steamboat Springs, where for several summers he managed a fly-in fishing lodge well
North of Anchorage, Alaska. He was always up for new adventures.
No question, Steve was part fish! He often planned his life, both short- and long-term,
around the next fishing trip, and loved fishing with his daughters. Steve worked to fish.
But he also worked to travel, and he and Melanie explored many incredible places
around the world over the last 13 years.
In his career in Industrial Safety, Steve worked for Martin Marietta near New Orleans, for
TIC out of Steamboat Springs, Colorado, and also for Parsons International in Saudi
Arabia. He was passionate about workplace and site safety and impacted the lives of
thousands of construction and plant employees throughout his career.
Steve leaves behind his daughters Erica and Anna, his wife Melanie Verce, two
stepsons, three brothers and many more family members and friends scattered around
the world who could not join the hundred friends able to attend his Life Remembrance in
Colorado in November.
Steve lived large, loved being outdoors, traveled worldwide, and did those things he
loved doing as often and as long as he could.
He was a good person, great brother and fun to be around. Fish on!!!!
Chuck (Charles J.) Boyle Sr.
Chuck Boyle was born on April 27, 1929 and passed away on Thanksgiving evening, 2023, in his Milwaukee home surrounded by his family. He was the son of Francis Boyle, Sr and Alice Lauerman Boyle. He and Betsy Zylkowski Boyle married in 1951 and raised their thirteen children in Marinette Wi.
Chuck and Betsy’s summer Isle Royale (The Island) adventures, with their children in tow, began in the 1950s, arriving on the new Ranger lll. This Park Service boat, her long-time crew and repeat Lodge visitors became their first of many dear Island friends.
Waiting to board the Ranger, dockside, Rock Harbor, circa 1964
The initial annual two-week camping visits included (some of) the children for the first week, then shipped home on the Ranger lll, while our parents stayed another week, alone. There was a sitter watching “the little kids”, and waiting for the older Island kids to return home.
By 1967, Chuck purchased a refurbished, used Boston Whaler from the company. With white fenders flapping on the boat’s sides, and a (fairly) dependable outboard motor, with a “kicker”, the Boyle family, often packed tightly but safely, were an easy sight to identify coming down the harbor.
Chuck learned to buy his motors based on what Park Service was using. Mott’s “boat techs” (Frank, Cliffie, Thor…) – when available – worked on his needed repairs. Except that one time Chuck and John Anderson had to return to Rock Harbor – in reverse – from Mott; bigger repairs were needed. As well, Chris Gale (Tobin Harbor) fixed a motor or two more than once for Chuck!!
He also frequented the Mott Island “boneyard” (with permission) to find discarded dock planks to be used on his current dock repairs. The Island created the need for thrift, it worked for Chuck.
Community was an integral part of our parents’ lives. The Island dinner – sometimes breakfast/John Snell/old cast iron waffle griddle- table was usually full. The conversations flowed easily with our parents, all of their children working on the Island or visiting, grandchildren, Bob Linn, Island residents, and often a paddler passing by and invited in.
Sidebar on Bob Linn (1926-2004): He was retired Chief Scientist for NPS in Washington. He founded the non-profit George Wright Society, based in Hancock, MI. He created the well-known and often purchased Linn map of the island. He was a lifelong Islander in his own right. Bob maintained a study plot on the Island, he was there frequently. His son, Bruce worked on the Ranger lll. Chuck and Betsy invited Bob to stay with them while at EK’s (Elizabeth Kemmer). He moved with them from one cabin to the next; was at most meals; tooled around in his own boat; listened to his radio while smoking on the screen porch, and mostly kept to himself yet contributed greatly to conversations and made the best breakfast oatmeal. A kind man, he melted in to the fabric of the Boyle family.
Chuck was a VIP (volunteer in the park) helping with transportation for the artist-in-resident program. From dockside to the Dassler cabin, and back to Rock Harbor on boat day. Many artists were dinner guests as well. Often Chuck took them to see more of the Island than they would have with their canoe provided by NPS. He was board chair of the Isle Royale Natural History Association (now combined with Keewenaw). He and Betsy attended Pete and Laura (Johnson) Edison’s 50th wedding anniversary party, held on Davidson Island and hosted by Park Service. And many of us watched the historic moon landing on a personal TV (Houchins’ ?) set up on the fireplace mantel in the Rock Harbor Guest House.
After living courageously with cancer, Betsy passed away in 2003. Chuck married Connie Huss Boyle (Toledo Ohio), introduced her to the Island and spent many more years enjoying time with Island friends together.
During the mid-1960s, Chuck began his spring trips to the Island with his friends. An eclectic group who shared a love of the Island. These trips continued for 35+ years. The “boys” chose spring for the many orchids, and solitude. Spring trips were cold weather, less bugs, and more ice that could be chipped from Blake’s Point for evening drinks. Their time was filled with camping; looking for orchids; visiting commercial fishing families, Island residents, the Bangsund cabin researchers; and traveling the waters from Malone Bay to McCargoe Cove, with many docks and harbors in between. Bob Lauer was the photographer of the spring trips, taking and developing his own photos, perhaps thousands of them; and in doing so also documenting Island history, people and places. Many Lauer photos are on the walls of the Boyle home.
Chuck, Ray Twining, Bob Lauer, Dick Allen, Ken Moss
Around 1978, EK (of Pasadena, CA) an Islander since the 1930s, decided she was no longer able to be alone at her cabin. During her last Island summer, EK asked our brother John if he could spend evenings in her guest cabin. With his own boat he could easily help her out and be to work at the Lodge in the morning. At the end of that summer, with Park Service approval, EK offered the use of her cabin to our parents. This was an incredible gift and the beginning of many lovely Tobin Harbor days. By then, our parents knew most of the harbor residents, many already old friends. For years, Chuck and Betsy and then Chuck and Connie enjoyed the use of three cabins: EK’s, then Hotel Island, home of Florence Stack Wolbrink, and Bob Green’s (Omaha) cabin on wee Green Island.
Chuck typically took three annual trips to the Island. He missed a few years in his early 80’s but was back for three more seasons until 2019, his 90th year. The Lodge Housekeeping was his final cabin. Chuck and Betsy instilled a love for the Island with their family. Five children worked at the lodge (Mary, John, Alice, Bill and Joe). In recent years, the next generation, John’s sons (JB and Ryan) worked for Park Service on Mott Island.
Chuck is survived by his wife Connie Huss-Boyle.And by his and Betsy’s children: Mary (John Anderson), Kathleen Dina, Annie Davis (Jay Marr), Jane (Curt Becker), Patrick, John (Nancy Slaby), Alice, Tom (Ingrid) , Chuck Jr (Cindy), Matt (Mandy), Bill, and Joe.And grandchildren:Katy Anderson (Tim Wilkinson), John Anderson (Ashley Adkison Anderson), Brighid Boyle, Courtney Boyle (Jessica),Christian Boyle, Casey Boyle, Hannah Boyle, John Michael (JB) Boyle, Ryan Boyle, Elizabeth Boyle, Joe Boyle, Charlie Boyle, Alex Boyle, Kelsey Boyle, Olivia Boyle, Cullen Boyle, Grace Boyle, as well as nine great-grandchildren:Claire, Connor, Carson, Breckyn, Henry, Freddy, Svea, Anders, Jens;Chuck’s sister Mary Boyle Johnson and brother Fran Boyle Jr.He is preceded in death by our mother, Betsy and our youngest sister, Elizabeth (1962-1964),Patrick’s infant son, John, and Patrick’s wife, Amy and their daughter, Melissa Boyle.
Stern line off, Dad.
Stephen Glen Merritt
of Merritt Camp, Tobin Harbor (grandson of Glen Merritt, son of Grant Merritt), Memorial provided by Carolyn Klein
Steve’s favorite place on earth was this island and being with the people who made up his ‘island family.’
As a five-year-old he would go around the camp holding up a model float plane for hours. It was watching the seaplane take off and land that led him to a career of flying. He worked for several airlines and was completely at home in the cockpit. Isle Royale had an immense impact on his life. He would return every summer during his childhood and then later with his wife and two boys. Steve’s life ended too soon in his mid-fifties in April of 2021.
Tom Haas
Remembering Tom Haas
On December 23, 2024, the Island lost one of its treasured friends, Tom Haas. Tom passed peacefully in his home with his wife Jeannie Thoren holding his hand.
For over fifty years Tom continued to live near the North Shore of Lake Superior, in Duluth, Minnesota after spending more than 20 summers (1967-1987) plying the waters of the Island in his Klepper kayak photographing – in essence documenting – and thankfully he did – the lives of the Islanders on Isle Royale. Tom was proud of his book, “ISLE ROYALE, A Photographer’s Circumnavigation 1967-1987”, and appreciated the accolades and gratitudes that he received.
Tom’s circle of Island friends encompassed Windigo to the Coast Guard Station on Passage Island, and every fishery and cabin in between. Tom enjoyed meeting the Island folk; it is evident in his legacy, exactly what Tom had hoped for.
We extend our deepest condolences to his wife Jeannie Thoren.
Lou Mattson
Remembering beloved Island family & friend, Lou Mattson
Louis A. Mattson, 89, of Pengilly, MN. passed away December 31, 2023, in Grand Rapids, MN.
The son of commercial fishermen, Lou was the last surviving member of the Mattson Tobin Harbor Fishery on Michigan’s Isle Royale. The fishery on Isle Royale, and family homesteads settled in the 1890’s at Larsmont and the French River on Minnesota’s North Shore were part of Lou’s DNA. If you knew Lou, you knew about the family legacy on Lake Superior.
The landscape of northern Minnesota inspired Lou to pursue a BS in Geology from the University of Minnesota Duluth and an MS in Geology from the University of Minnesota and the Colorado School of Mines. This education would lead to a 30-year career highlighted by travel around the world while working for M.A. Hanna’s Minerals Research Laboratory in Nashwauk.
Lou’s sharp mind did not rest in retirement. He extensively researched family genealogy culminating in connections with relatives in Larsmo, Finland, enhanced his boat collection at the home he and Peggy built on Swan Lake, supported the Isle Royale Friends and Family Association (IRFFA), traveled extensively, and with camera in hand attended hundreds of extracurricular events cheering his grandchildren. Lou was a 50+ year member of Nashwauk Lutheran Church.
Lou was exceptionally grateful to caregivers at Grand Itasca Hospital, Essentia Health and St. Luke’s in Duluth.
Preceding him in death were his parents, Art and Inez Mattson; and sister, Lorraine Carlson. Lou leaves behind his wife of 61 years, Margaret (Peggy) Mattson; children, David (Gloria), Tim (Tricia) and Jennifer. Lou’s children blessed him with five beautiful grandchildren and their partners; Alex (Aly), Courtney (Michael), Andrew (Bailey), Alexa (George), Ana; great-grandchildren, Amandine and Arielle.
Grant Merritt
Grant Merritt’s life embodied the spirit and cultural fabric of Isle Royale.
IRFFA lost a founding member and core part of Isle Royale’s history in May. Grant Merritt passed on May 18, 2022. He was a tireless advocate for Lake Superior and especially Isle Royale.
Grant followed a familiar path of the Merritt family, who first came to Isle Royale in the 1860s and returned, again and again, across generations, in a cyclical life pattern of going to and from the island. Ultimately, the family built a wilderness camp in the sheltered waters of Tobin’s Harbor where they gathered with a community of fisherfolk, cottagers and island-goers. Grant’s appreciation for humans as caretakers of wild and historical places emerged from spending childhood summers on Isle Royale and led to a lifetime of environmental activism and advocacy for historical preservation. When on “island time” one could often find Grant pondering “the reality of the absolute”, a favorite quote, sitting on the dock in his grandfather’s rocking chair while listening to the lap of the big lake.
We fellow islanders will carry Grant’s deep laugh, disposition, and devotion to Isle Royale within us. But mostly, Grant’s spirit will continue to carry us across those waters that bind us together, sharing a history, a place, and this moment in time.
John Ellis Snell
Our uncle John Snell was born in 1923 and died suddenly in 2007 when driving home from his regular volunteer duty at the American Red Cross. As sad as the news was to hear, it was appropriate that he spent his last moments helping others just as he had done his entire life. His life was a whirl of perpetual motion and tasks that needed to be accomplished. For those of us who knew him through our visits to Isle Royale, this translated into early wake up calls (thank goodness we finally gave Birch Mussleman his trumpet back) and one adventure after another. He was rarely satisfied simply sitting around when there were fish to catch, roofs to repair, water pumps to design, and stories to tell related to just about anything we said to him! John’s classic line would begin with “You know, that reminds me of a story when…” He had a line for just about everyone and could make a connection with perfect strangers in five minutes or less. There was no hiding from Uncle John.
From our vantage point nothing ever came easy for our Uncle John. He was the middle son of three boys and, as our fathers have relayed to us, was often the odd man out. Both brothers were a foot taller and accomplished athletes and students. From an early age, however, John learned to make the best of any situation he found himself in. He as one of Coach Orsborne’s devoted tennis players at Rock Harbor Lodge tennis court and kept playing the game well into his 70’s. The same thing with golf, a sport he reveled in during his winter escapes to Florida with Jeanne to get a few more rounds in. According to John, he was the best fisherman of the three brothers.
The boys spent most of their summer rowing out in Tobin’s harbor each morning in wooden boats they bought from the families that sold out when the park was established. According to John, he had never been ‘skunked’ until his las trip to the island two years before he passed. You should have seen the sad look on his face. When Uncle John got a little older, he worked down in Windigo for a commercial fisherman and later in Rock Harbor as a fishing guide.
The highlight of Uncle John’s career on Isle Royale was the winter he spent on the island from September of 1941 to April of 1942. He had just graduated from Wheaton High School and was playing in the Duluth Symphony Orchestra that summer when, as he wrote: “I received a call from my father or George Bagley, I cannot remember which or if it was both, to ask if I would be interested in coming to Isle Royale to stay for the winter as a caretaker/ranger along with five other people. I of course, being the ripe old age of 18, jumped at the chance without knowing what I was getting into. I left Duluth in mid-September aboard the Winyah headed for the island by way of Grand Marais with the first island stop at Windigo Inn. After a few days, the park’s only ranger, Carl Gilbert, and the park naturalist, ‘Doc’ Bailey, arrived via the park boat called the Plouver. This vessel was piloted by my old friend Joe Colombe. Our crew was comprised of: Carl-the ‘true ranger’, Smiley-another caretaker ranger, myself, Iner-a Finnish carpenter/repairman, and our motorman, who kept our generators and mechanical equipment working. It proved to be a very good crew. By late December, a snow shoe trip was made. Crossing Siskiwit Bay on ice, we encountered a major ice split and had to work our way around. When we were going over a cliff, Carl dropped into about 15 feet of snow. To warm from our trip between Malone Bay and Siskiwit Bay, we stopped at Hama Anderson’s house for a Christmas feed, including the ‘beef’ that got in the way of her husband’s 9mm rifle hanging over the door.”
That winter was full of other experiences that Uncle John loved to share with us that often went against conventional wisdom. John loved to be the contrarian in the crowd. According to John, the moose on Isle Royale could have come over from the mainland on the ice just like the wolves theoretically came over because he personally saw moose run across a frozen lake that winter.
Obviously John lived to tell the tale and went on to achieve many exciting adventures until his dealth at 84 years old. One other interesting note that not many people were aware of was that John lost an eye in an industrial accident in the 1970’s. For the last 30 years of his life, he managed all he accomplished with one eye, a feat that not too many people realized. He was a Navy pilot, played his viola in many symphonies, and volunteered for many community service activities. He finally retired about six months before he died and was almost as despondent at this decision as he was on the only day he was skunked fishing on Isle Royale. His wife Jeanne and he were married 58 years. He has three daughters, many grandchildren and six great-grandchildren. Granddaughter Crystal Schaldenbrand continues to visit the island.
IRFFA 