Stephen S. Nardi, ‘Nards’

Steve was born in Ishpeming on June 26th, 1950, son of the late Joseph Nardi and Mildred (Manty) Nardi. He attended St. John’s Catholic school and Ishpeming public schools, graduating with the class of 1969. Nards married the love of his life, Marsha, on September 16th, 1972. He remembered that she was the first girl he danced with in junior high and they spent 50 great years together. He worked for Cliffs doing maintenance until his retirement after 30 years of service.

Steve loved fly fishing. It became one of his true passions, he made his own fly rods, and flies that he would use while he spent his time fishing for brook trout throughout the years. He was a member of the Escanaba River Association and enjoyed fishing trips down to Boney Falls, annual fish camp trips with his buddies and days fishing on his boat. Nards enjoyed watching his daughter Chelsea and her then husband Erick play softball, whether it was a tournament in Big Bay or a weeknight game. He never missed a softball game of Chelsea’s in 25 years. Steve also enjoyed playing cards with friends, playing cribbage in the Ishpeming cribbage league, family time at the camp on Chief Lake, and spending time with his two grandchildren, Fiona Pearl and Josie Opal. Family was very important to him his entire life.

Nards is survived by his wife of 50 years- Marsha (Johnson) Nardi, daughter- Chelsea Roberts, 2 grandchildren- Fiona and Josie, and their father- Erick Roberts, uncle- Francis “Chico” Nardi, aunts- Nancy Hewitt, and Theresa (Melvin) Leivo, sister in law- Paulette Nardi, along with several nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his father- Joseph Nardi, mother- Mildred Bertucci, step father- Victor Bertucci, father-in- law and mother-in-law- Ned and Lois Johnson, siblings- Susan Ogea in 1990, Joseph C. Nardi in 2002, and nephew- Marty J. Caneff in 2013. He will be missed by many friends and his fur friends- Maggie, Daisy, and Marni Bear.

A private Mass of Christian Burial will be held at St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church.

A public Celebration of Life will take place on Friday March 3rd, 2023, at the Congress in Ishpeming. The family invites all to join them from 1-3 pm where memories of Nards can be shared.

Interment will take place in the Ishpeming Cemetery in the spring.

The family would like to extend a special thank you to UP Home Health and Hospice and nurse Paula, and the 4th Floor staff at UP Health System – Marquette and nurse, Christina, for the wonderful care they gave to Stephen.

“I fish because I love to; because I love the environs that trout are found… I thus escape; because, in a world where most men spend their lives doing things they hate, my fishing is at once an endless source of delight…”– John Voelker

Nards’s obituary may also be viewed at bjorkandzhulkie.com, where relatives and friends may leave a note of remembrance.