James R. Urban

James Roy Urban, 79, of Caspian, passed away at Aspirus hospital in Iron River on March 24, 2025. He was born on April 27, 1945, in Crystal Falls. He was the son of the late Otto and Irene (Dahl) Urban. He attended the Crystal Falls schools and graduated with the class of 1965. James married the former Bonnie Meyers on December 18, 1965. They made their home in the Berkshire location in old Caspian. They celebrated their 59th wedding anniversary in 2024. He held several jobs over the years. As a kid, he used to cut grass for 25 cents a lawn. He would shovel driveways and sidewalks. He also had a paper route delivering The Diamond Drill. He would tell stories about how he would pick potatoes at the Kudwa farm for 10 cents a pail. He would also keep the coal stove going in the Masonic Lodge in the winter. He worked at Runkle Lake Park as a basket checker for 50 cents an hour. He worked at Medicare in Crystal Falls as an orderly. He drove the Shubat bus and would take the miners to and from the Groverland and Republic mines. Iron Mountain, Crystal Falls and Iron River would charter a bus through Shubat and he would drive them to the Silverdome downstate for tournaments. He worked for the Senior Center delivering meals on wheels. He loved all of these jobs. He could always start a conversation with anyone by asking, “Where are you from?” He always somehow made a connection to everyone he met. He was a kind and generous man. If anyone needed a ride to a doctor appointment out of town, he would take them. If anyone wanted to go somewhere, he would take them. He was so proud to be from Crystal Falls. He loved Polka music, parades and fairs. He would drive to Pulaski, WI to attend the Polka parade. When he was a kid he was part of the 4-H. He had a dairy cow named Pearl and it was kept at Dave Callovi’s farm. They would stay at the U.P. State Fairgrounds. He was a wonderful husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, and friend. He leaves behind the love of his life, Bonnie; sons, James (Gloria), Michael; daughter, Lori (Scott) Abata; grandchildren, Katie (Dave) Schroeder, Nickolas (Kira) Abata, Ciara (Gade) Abram’s, Makayla Urban, and Keaton (Emma) Urban, Emily Pomeroy, and Jon Blacyki; great-grandchildren, Sierra and Josiah Schroeder, Haliway and Karsen Abata, Ava, Adalynn and David Abrams, and Ezekiel Urban; brothers, Robert (Marsha) and Mardy Urban; sisters-in-law, Carol James and Pearlie Urban; lots of nieces, nephews, and cousins. His best friends were Steele Magnet and Richard Hammerberg. He was preceded in death by his parents, Otto and Irene; brothers, Randy and Leonard Urban; brothers-in-law, James LaBelle, David, Edward and Henry Meyers; great-grandchildren, Camdyn Abata and Ezra Abrams. Private family services will be held at a later date. To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of James R. Urban, please visit our flower store.