Obituary for Ernest W. "Ernie" Brace
Ernest W."Ernie" Brace, 71,
of Ironwood, died unexpectedly Saturday, Sept. 10, 2011, in his
home. He was born May 6, 1940, in the family home at
Little Girl's Point in Ironwood Township, son of the late David Brace and
Dorothy (Johnson) Brace Falesnik, and graduated from Luther L. Wright High
School in 1958. He then served in the U.S. Army for two years in
Korea. Following his discharge, Ernie worked as a
welder in Milwaukee, then was employed as production manager for 30 years in
Winthrop Harbor, Ill for the Dexter Corp., retiring in 1995 and returning to
Little Girl's Point. He then moved back to Winthrop Harbor in 1999 and
eventually to Ironwood in 2006. In his retirement, he was employed as a security
guard for the Cancer Research Center in Zion, Ill. Ernie was a life member of Ironwood Veterans
of Foreign Wars Post 1823, and a member of the Aurora Athletic Club and the
Norrie Amateur Sports Club. He loved hunting and the outdoors, and especially
enjoyed riding his all terrain vehicle at Little Girl's Point. He was married to Ollie Hamm on Sept. 22,
1965, in Winthrop Harbor. She preceded him in death on Nov. 19,
2006. Surviving are a daughter, Lori Russell, of
Oklahoma; two brothers, Donald, of Ironwood, and Kenneth, Little Girl's Point; a
sister, Jean (Loyd) Wilbanks, Ironwood Township; the love of his life, Jean
Wiita, of Wakefield; three step-children, Denise (Max) Maxfield, Ariz., Lisa
(Bill) Orrick, Winthrop Harbor, and Brenda Braun, Jerome, Mich.; several
step-grandchildren and step-great-grandchildren; numerous nieces and nephews;
and his feline friend Smokey. Besides his parents and wife, he was preceded
in death by a sister, Janice Cummings; step-son, Steve Gilmore; and two
step-grandchildren. Cremation has taken place. A memorial service will be held Thursday,
Sept. 15, at 11 a.m., preceded by visitation at 10 a.m., at the McKevitt-Patrick
Funeral Home, 305 N. Lowell St. in Ironwood, with the Rev. Todd Winkler
officiating. Committal will take place at the funeral home,
where full military honors will be accorded by the Ironwood American Legion Post
5 Honor Guard. Luncheon will follow at the Iron Nugget in
downtown Hurley. Private inurnment will be in Sunset Acres
Cemetery, Ironwood Township. To view Ernie's obituary online, sign his
guestbook or offer condolences, visit
mckevittpatrickfuneralhome.com. Arrangements are entrusted to McKevitt-Patrick
Funeral Home and Cremation Services of Ironwood.
of Ironwood, died unexpectedly Saturday, Sept. 10, 2011, in his
home. He was born May 6, 1940, in the family home at
Little Girl's Point in Ironwood Township, son of the late David Brace and
Dorothy (Johnson) Brace Falesnik, and graduated from Luther L. Wright High
School in 1958. He then served in the U.S. Army for two years in
Korea. Following his discharge, Ernie worked as a
welder in Milwaukee, then was employed as production manager for 30 years in
Winthrop Harbor, Ill for the Dexter Corp., retiring in 1995 and returning to
Little Girl's Point. He then moved back to Winthrop Harbor in 1999 and
eventually to Ironwood in 2006. In his retirement, he was employed as a security
guard for the Cancer Research Center in Zion, Ill. Ernie was a life member of Ironwood Veterans
of Foreign Wars Post 1823, and a member of the Aurora Athletic Club and the
Norrie Amateur Sports Club. He loved hunting and the outdoors, and especially
enjoyed riding his all terrain vehicle at Little Girl's Point. He was married to Ollie Hamm on Sept. 22,
1965, in Winthrop Harbor. She preceded him in death on Nov. 19,
2006. Surviving are a daughter, Lori Russell, of
Oklahoma; two brothers, Donald, of Ironwood, and Kenneth, Little Girl's Point; a
sister, Jean (Loyd) Wilbanks, Ironwood Township; the love of his life, Jean
Wiita, of Wakefield; three step-children, Denise (Max) Maxfield, Ariz., Lisa
(Bill) Orrick, Winthrop Harbor, and Brenda Braun, Jerome, Mich.; several
step-grandchildren and step-great-grandchildren; numerous nieces and nephews;
and his feline friend Smokey. Besides his parents and wife, he was preceded
in death by a sister, Janice Cummings; step-son, Steve Gilmore; and two
step-grandchildren. Cremation has taken place. A memorial service will be held Thursday,
Sept. 15, at 11 a.m., preceded by visitation at 10 a.m., at the McKevitt-Patrick
Funeral Home, 305 N. Lowell St. in Ironwood, with the Rev. Todd Winkler
officiating. Committal will take place at the funeral home,
where full military honors will be accorded by the Ironwood American Legion Post
5 Honor Guard. Luncheon will follow at the Iron Nugget in
downtown Hurley. Private inurnment will be in Sunset Acres
Cemetery, Ironwood Township. To view Ernie's obituary online, sign his
guestbook or offer condolences, visit
mckevittpatrickfuneralhome.com. Arrangements are entrusted to McKevitt-Patrick
Funeral Home and Cremation Services of Ironwood.