Obituary for Alice Peterson Erspamer
Mesa,Ariz.-Alice Peterson
Erspamer, 83, of Mesa and Hurley, Wis., passed away peacefully August
29 th , 2010, in Mesa surrounded by family and friends. Alice was born at home on March 20,
1927, in Montreal, Wis., the daughter of the late Otto Peterson and Emma
Morestead Peterson. She was preceded in
death by her parents, as well as her brothers Harold Peterson, Palmer Peterson,
Eugene Peterson, Audrey Peterson Johnson, and a sister, Louise, who died in
infancy. Alice was a strong willed woman that
friends and family adored. At sixteen,
she graduated early from high school in Hurley, Wis. and took to the war effort
working in an armament factory. After
the war, Alice traveled to Jolliet, Illinois and attended nursing school at St.
Joseph’s Hospital. After graduation, Alice moved to
Phoenix, Ariz., where she worked as an RN at the state hospital, the only
registered nurse overseeing 200 patients at a time. Alice returned to Wisconsin in the late
1940s’ to help care for her ailing mother. It was there that she met her
husband, Edward H. Erspamer, of Hurley, who preceded her in death in
2007. Alice had four children and two
grandchildren; all of whom survive her: Rex (Kathy) Erspamer of Yuma, Ariz.;
Kurt Erspamer of Madison, Wis.; Gerald (Anita) Erspamer, of Tempe, Ariz., and
their children Alyssa and Brett; as well as Maria (Doug Stinson) Erspamer of
Mesa, Ariz. Alice was a long-time volunteer and
tireless fundraiser for the Easter Seals of Northern Wisconsin. Her career as an
RN and OB Supervisor spanned Illinois, Arizona and Grandview Hospital in
Ironwood, Mich. She retired from St.
Luke’s Hospital in Tempe, Ariz., where she and Ed made a home in the late
1970s’. Many will miss her famous chocolate
cake, but those closest to her will miss so much more. Cremation has taken
place. A Mass of Christian Burial will be
celebrated Saturday, Oct. 2, at 11 a.m., at St. Mary's Catholic Church in
Hurley, with the Rev. Michael Hayden, celebrant. Rite of Committal and interment will
follow in St. Mary's Cemetery, Hurley. Luncheon will be served in the parish
hall immediately upon return from the cemetery. Relatives and friends may call at the
church one hour prior to the Mass on Saturday. To view Alice's obituary online, sign
the guestbook and express condolences, visit
mckevittpatrickfuneralhome.com. Arrangements are with McKevitt-Patrick
Funeral Home and Cremation Services of Ironwood .
Erspamer, 83, of Mesa and Hurley, Wis., passed away peacefully August
29 th , 2010, in Mesa surrounded by family and friends. Alice was born at home on March 20,
1927, in Montreal, Wis., the daughter of the late Otto Peterson and Emma
Morestead Peterson. She was preceded in
death by her parents, as well as her brothers Harold Peterson, Palmer Peterson,
Eugene Peterson, Audrey Peterson Johnson, and a sister, Louise, who died in
infancy. Alice was a strong willed woman that
friends and family adored. At sixteen,
she graduated early from high school in Hurley, Wis. and took to the war effort
working in an armament factory. After
the war, Alice traveled to Jolliet, Illinois and attended nursing school at St.
Joseph’s Hospital. After graduation, Alice moved to
Phoenix, Ariz., where she worked as an RN at the state hospital, the only
registered nurse overseeing 200 patients at a time. Alice returned to Wisconsin in the late
1940s’ to help care for her ailing mother. It was there that she met her
husband, Edward H. Erspamer, of Hurley, who preceded her in death in
2007. Alice had four children and two
grandchildren; all of whom survive her: Rex (Kathy) Erspamer of Yuma, Ariz.;
Kurt Erspamer of Madison, Wis.; Gerald (Anita) Erspamer, of Tempe, Ariz., and
their children Alyssa and Brett; as well as Maria (Doug Stinson) Erspamer of
Mesa, Ariz. Alice was a long-time volunteer and
tireless fundraiser for the Easter Seals of Northern Wisconsin. Her career as an
RN and OB Supervisor spanned Illinois, Arizona and Grandview Hospital in
Ironwood, Mich. She retired from St.
Luke’s Hospital in Tempe, Ariz., where she and Ed made a home in the late
1970s’. Many will miss her famous chocolate
cake, but those closest to her will miss so much more. Cremation has taken
place. A Mass of Christian Burial will be
celebrated Saturday, Oct. 2, at 11 a.m., at St. Mary's Catholic Church in
Hurley, with the Rev. Michael Hayden, celebrant. Rite of Committal and interment will
follow in St. Mary's Cemetery, Hurley. Luncheon will be served in the parish
hall immediately upon return from the cemetery. Relatives and friends may call at the
church one hour prior to the Mass on Saturday. To view Alice's obituary online, sign
the guestbook and express condolences, visit
mckevittpatrickfuneralhome.com. Arrangements are with McKevitt-Patrick
Funeral Home and Cremation Services of Ironwood .