Johnny Voit

1935-2010 "Big John," as he was known, was born June 3, 1935, in Finlayson to the late Alvin and Bernice Voit. He graduated from the Finlayson High School in 1952. John was a true musician at heart and entertained people throughout the Midwest and Nashville. His guitar and fiddling talents brought joy to thousands of people throughout the United States and Canada. Among the bands that he led in the local area were "Big John and the Bad Men" and later "Big John and the Fiddlers Three." The "Old Midwest Barn Dance Show" was also one of his organizations. He was also recently inducted into the Minnesota Country Music Hall of Fame. When Big John made his home in the Gogebic County area he worked for Kimberly Clark Corp. in Marenisco, then formed Wakefield Pallet Inc., along with Jim Cormier Sr., and was also president of the Cultured Marble Plant in Wakefield. John was married to Naomi (Jarvi) on June 28, 1969. Together they had one son, Scott (Cherece) of Wakefield.