John "Kermit" Kermit Aspey

John “Kermit” Aspey, age 64, of Iron River, MI, passed away Friday, September 25, 2015. He was born February 16, 1951 in Muskegon, MI, the son of the late Willard and Elsie (Simila) Aspey . He attended the North Muskegon Schools, graduating from Reeths Puffer High School with the Class of 1969. Kermit married the former Clare Tomasoski on June 14, 1986 in Gaastra, MI, and the couple made their home in Iron River. He was the owner/operator of Kermit’s Pizza Pub and Grill for over 35 years, and was voted Outstanding Young Man of the Year during Michigan Week in 1991. He was a member of the Elks Lodge, the Iron County Chamber of Commerce, George Young Golf Course, former Stambaugh City Commissioner and volunteer at the Stambaugh Fire Department. Prior to moving to Iron River, Kermit worked in the auto parts supply business for ten years. He was a millwright at Kaydon Industries. Kermit sponsored many youth and adult athletic teams throughout the years in Iron County, including fast pitch softball, men’s and women’s slow pitch softball, basketball, bowling and pool teams. He was a proud supporter of local high school and Little League sports and enjoyed talking shop with the coaches and athletes. Kermit was proud to be a part of his community and was a generous supporter of many organizations and events. He had a real gift of making everyone he came in contact with feel like a lifelong friend. No one was a stranger at Kermit’s. He enjoyed hunting, fishing, and snowmobiling in his younger years. In recent years, Kermit became an avid golfer. Kermit had an extra soft spot in his heart for animals of all kinds, including his own adopted pets. His many special nieces and nephews regarded him as an awesome uncle; he loved them with all his heart. Kermit is survived by his wife, Clare; brother, Brad Aspey of Florida; sisters, Shari Aspey of Muskegon, MI, and Susan (Chuck) Adams of Columbus, OH; brothers–in-law, Bob (Trish) Tomasoski of Dayton, OH, and Doug (Kelly) Tomasoski of Gaastra; sister-in law, Nori (Dennis) Kmiecik of Iron River; nieces and nephews, Travis, Mallory, Natalie and Neil Tomasoski, Katie and Christopher Kmiecik, Mary (Eric) Blaszczyk, Nicholas, Beatrice and Ellie Tomasoski, and Angela and Dustin Adams. Visitation will be held Friday, October 2, 2015 from 9:00 to 11:45 a.m. at the Jacobs Funeral Home of Iron River. Funeral services will follow at 12 p.m. with Pastor Dawn Treado Green to officiate. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorial donations to the Northwoods Animal Shelter or the Iron County Cancer Unit.Funeral arrangements by the Jacobs Funeral Home of Iron River. To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of John "Kermit" Kermit Aspey, please visit our flower store.