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NEGAUNEE TWP, MI – With profound sadness, Levi Dylan Tadgerson, “Giiniw” (Golden Eagle), 39, a proud Finlander boy from Negaunee and Tribal citizen of Bay Mills, walked on the evening of July 12, 2026.
Levi was born November 18, 1986 at Camp Lejeune in Jacksonville, North Carolina to Lynn and April (Wehmanen) Tadgerson. He was a graduate of Negaunee High School, Class of 2005. Following high school, he earned his bachelor's degree from Northern Michigan University in Native American Studies and Languages, through the first individually created program of its kind which built the Native American Studies major at NMU.
A great joy of his was working with the Great Lakes Indian Fish & Wildlife Commission with Anishinaabe language. He worked different construction jobs before taking his plant and gardening expertise to be a grower for Higher Love for the past five years. He enjoyed being outdoors, especially gardening and honoring his Anishinaabe culture through being a dedicated linguistic and cultural revitalization advocate. He loved winter season and his time in the sugar shack making maple syrup. Some of his most cherished memories were the brook trout fishing trips to Canada with his Dad and close friends. More than anything, Levi loved his children and cherished time spent outdoors with them.
Surviving are his parents; children: Lexi and Asher and their Mother, Amber Shoulders; Scarlett and Ruby and their Mother, Krista St. Germain; his sister, Leora Tadgerson and her children, Quinn, Shiloh, Evan (special cousin) and Jack; his grandmother, Verona Wehmanen; and numerous nieces, nephews, aunts, uncles, cousins and friends. He was preceded in death by his paternal grandparents: Wayne Tadgerson and Hilda Otowadjiwan; maternal grandfather, David Wehmanen; and his uncle, Michael Tadgerson.
A traditional fire was lit Monday at the Marquette Tribal Community Center, 204 Cherry Creek Road in Marquette, Michigan and all are welcome. Visitation will begin at 5:00 pm on Wednesday, July 15th at Koskey Funeral Home and will continue throughout the night.
Traditional Ojibwe services will be held at the funeral home at 10:00 am on Thursday before burial services in the Negaunee Cemetery. A luncheon will then follow at the Marquette Tribal Community Center.
Levi's memorial page may be viewed at www.koskeyfuneralhome.com.