Obituary for Emil "Walter" Peltonen
Emil (Walter) Peltonen, 89, of
Upson, Wis., died peacefully Friday, Aug. 19, 2011, at Howard Young Medical
Center in Woodruff, with his loving family by his side. Walter was born March 21, 1922, in Marengo,
Wis., son of the late Emil and Elena (Hanson) Peltonen, attended school in
Upson, and worked as a logger in mining camps and Civilian Conservation Corps
camps. He entered the U.S. Army on Dec. 16, 1942, serving during World War II in
the 116th Cavalry Reconnaissance Squadron in Central Europe, and was honorably
discharged on Jan. 1, 1946. Following his discharge, he returned to the
area and worked in the Montreal Mine for 16 years. He then was employed on a
section crew for the Soo Line Railroad until his retirement. A life member of the National Trappers
Association, Walter was well known in the area for his trapping prowess, and
published an article in Fur, Fish and Game Magazine. He also possessed a great
love of music and could play the guitar, violin, banjo and any other stringed
instrument. He was a member of Iron County Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 1580,
and was an avid hunter and fisherman and Milwaukee Brewers fan. He was also
known for his great story telling and jokes. His true enjoyment was his
children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Walter was very much loved by his
children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren and all who knew him. He will be
deeply missed. He was married to the former Eleanor A. Lipske
of Upson. She preceded him in death on Aug. 16, 2007. Surviving are two sons, Robert (Vicki),
Weyauwega, Wis., and Richard (Kathy), Las Vegas, Nev.; two daughters, Yvonne
"Sookie" (Gary) Morzenti, Montreal, Wis., and Deborah (Steve) Wilkie, Lynn
Haven, Fla.; 16 grandchildren and 19 great-grandchildren; a sister, Lucille
(Marvin) Stern, Seattle, Wash.; sisters-in-law, Lois Lipske, Upson, and
Catherine Shaver, Washburn, Wis.; numerous nieces, nephews and cousins, to
include a special cousin, Patrick (Sylvia) Hanson, Upson; and special companion,
his cat "Klupis". Besides his parents and wife, he was preceded
in death by a great-grandson, Nathan Paul Siirila; and a brother, Gerald
Pelton. Funeral services will be held Tuesday, Aug.
23, at 11 a.m., preceded by visitation beginning at 10 a.m., at the
McKevitt-Patrick Funeral Home, 305 N. Lowell St., in Ironwood, with the Rev.
Michael Hayden officiating. Committal and interment will follow in Calvary
Cemetery, Upson, where full military honors will be accorded by the combined
Hurley American Legion Post 58 and Iron Co. V.F.W. Post 1580 Honor
Guard. Luncheon will be served at the Upson Town Hall
immediately upon return from the cemetery. Pallbearers will be Darren Siirila, Travis,
Joshua and Troy Kretzschmar, Kevin Peltonen, and Ryan and Jacob
Veley. To view Walter's obituary online, sign his
guestbook or express condolences, visit
mckevittpatrickfuneralhome.com. Arrangements are entrusted to McKevitt-Patrick
Funeral Home, Inc., Ironwood.
Upson, Wis., died peacefully Friday, Aug. 19, 2011, at Howard Young Medical
Center in Woodruff, with his loving family by his side. Walter was born March 21, 1922, in Marengo,
Wis., son of the late Emil and Elena (Hanson) Peltonen, attended school in
Upson, and worked as a logger in mining camps and Civilian Conservation Corps
camps. He entered the U.S. Army on Dec. 16, 1942, serving during World War II in
the 116th Cavalry Reconnaissance Squadron in Central Europe, and was honorably
discharged on Jan. 1, 1946. Following his discharge, he returned to the
area and worked in the Montreal Mine for 16 years. He then was employed on a
section crew for the Soo Line Railroad until his retirement. A life member of the National Trappers
Association, Walter was well known in the area for his trapping prowess, and
published an article in Fur, Fish and Game Magazine. He also possessed a great
love of music and could play the guitar, violin, banjo and any other stringed
instrument. He was a member of Iron County Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 1580,
and was an avid hunter and fisherman and Milwaukee Brewers fan. He was also
known for his great story telling and jokes. His true enjoyment was his
children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Walter was very much loved by his
children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren and all who knew him. He will be
deeply missed. He was married to the former Eleanor A. Lipske
of Upson. She preceded him in death on Aug. 16, 2007. Surviving are two sons, Robert (Vicki),
Weyauwega, Wis., and Richard (Kathy), Las Vegas, Nev.; two daughters, Yvonne
"Sookie" (Gary) Morzenti, Montreal, Wis., and Deborah (Steve) Wilkie, Lynn
Haven, Fla.; 16 grandchildren and 19 great-grandchildren; a sister, Lucille
(Marvin) Stern, Seattle, Wash.; sisters-in-law, Lois Lipske, Upson, and
Catherine Shaver, Washburn, Wis.; numerous nieces, nephews and cousins, to
include a special cousin, Patrick (Sylvia) Hanson, Upson; and special companion,
his cat "Klupis". Besides his parents and wife, he was preceded
in death by a great-grandson, Nathan Paul Siirila; and a brother, Gerald
Pelton. Funeral services will be held Tuesday, Aug.
23, at 11 a.m., preceded by visitation beginning at 10 a.m., at the
McKevitt-Patrick Funeral Home, 305 N. Lowell St., in Ironwood, with the Rev.
Michael Hayden officiating. Committal and interment will follow in Calvary
Cemetery, Upson, where full military honors will be accorded by the combined
Hurley American Legion Post 58 and Iron Co. V.F.W. Post 1580 Honor
Guard. Luncheon will be served at the Upson Town Hall
immediately upon return from the cemetery. Pallbearers will be Darren Siirila, Travis,
Joshua and Troy Kretzschmar, Kevin Peltonen, and Ryan and Jacob
Veley. To view Walter's obituary online, sign his
guestbook or express condolences, visit
mckevittpatrickfuneralhome.com. Arrangements are entrusted to McKevitt-Patrick
Funeral Home, Inc., Ironwood.