Obituary for Lucy A. Gustafson
Lucy A. Gustafson, 93, a lifelong
Hurley resident, died Thursday, Aug. 12, 2010, in Hurley. The former Lucy A. Colasacco was born April 7,
1917, in Ironwood, Mich., daughter of the late Santo (Sam) and Antonina (Caruso)
Colasacco, and moved to Hurley at the age of 7. She attended Hurley schools and
graduated from Hurley High School in 1934. She then attended Gogebic Community
College for two years and received an associate degree in business. Lucy married Kenneth Gustafson on Aug. 10,
1940 in Hurley. Together with Ken, she owned and operated Lucy and Ken's Piano
Lounge in Hurley until she sold the lounge in 1975. It was a very happy and
memorable part of their lives. A popular tradition at Lucy and Ken's was
taking photographs of their patrons from all over the United States and then
giving copies to them when they returned. Ken preceded Lucy in death in July
1973. A bellwether of the community, Lucy began her
60 years of volunteer work as a brownie scout leader. A lifelong member of St.
Mary's Catholic Church in Hurley, she belonged to the former St. Mary's Players,
served on the parish council, and was a member of the Council of Catholic
Women. She served as executive secretary for the
Winter Theater in Ironwood and helped host events and parties for stars coming
into the area, including Tyrone Power, Raymond Massey and Elsa Manchester. She
served as president of the Iron County Chapter of the American Cancer Society
for 25 years, was a longstanding member and past president of the former Hurley
Women's Club, a member of the former Ironwood Woman's Club, a member of the
Hurley Lioness, the Auxiliaries to both the Iron County Veterans of Foreign Wars
Post 1580 and Hurley American Legion Post 58, a member of the Gogebic Country
Club, a charter member and a member of the original board of directors, of
Eagle Bluff Golf Club, and volunteered as a Pink Lady at Grand View Hospital and
served on the original board of directors. Lucy was also a longtime member and dedicated
worker at Theatre North in Ironwood, and was a member of the Paisano Club of
Upper Michigan. She ushered and offered hospitality at the Ironwood Theater,
becoming a "Friend of the Ironwood Theater". She served on the Hurley Library
board of directors and worked with the Paavo Nurmi Marathon Committee making
sure runners had housing. She worked at Tahoe Lynx Golf Course in Mercer and
also sold Avon products in her spare time. Her hobbies included golf, skiing,
skating and traveling. Surviving are her twin children, Dean (Martha)
Gustafson and Deanna (John) Pierpont Jr., both of Mercer; four grandchildren,
Renee (Fred) Hable, Madison, John (Kim) Pierpont III, Mundelein, Il., Julie
(Brian) McNelis, Los Angeles, and Amy (Dr. Mike) Gennrich, Austin, Tx.; five
great-grandchildren, Brittany, John IV, Lauren and Tessa Pierpont and Lucy Rose
Gennrich; step-grandchildren, Frog (Carolyn) Prell, Superior; Laura (Mike) Curtis, Raleigh, NC, Cara (Dan) Stephens, Atlanta, GA, Dave (Sacheen) Prell, Boston, MA; step great-grandchildren, Regan and John Michael Curtis, Finn and Laramie Prell and Helen & Rece Stephens; and numerous nieces and nephews. Besides her parents and husband, she was
preceded in death by two brothers, Dean Rogers and Gildo Colasacco. In accordance with Lucy's wishes, cremation
has taken place. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated
Saturday, Aug. 14, at 11 a.m., at St. Mary's Church in Hurley, with the Rev.
Michael Hayden, celebrant. Rite of Committal will take place at the
church, with luncheon to follow in the parish hall. Private inurnment will be in St. Mary's
Cemetery, Hurley. Friends may call at the church from 10 to 11
a.m. on Saturday. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may
be made to the American Cancer Society, Hurley Public Library, or Theatre
North. To view Lucy's obituary online, sign the
guestbook or express condolences, visit
mckevittpatrickfuneralhome.com. Arrangements are entrusted to McKevitt-Patrick
Funeral Home and Cremation Services of Ironwood
Hurley resident, died Thursday, Aug. 12, 2010, in Hurley. The former Lucy A. Colasacco was born April 7,
1917, in Ironwood, Mich., daughter of the late Santo (Sam) and Antonina (Caruso)
Colasacco, and moved to Hurley at the age of 7. She attended Hurley schools and
graduated from Hurley High School in 1934. She then attended Gogebic Community
College for two years and received an associate degree in business. Lucy married Kenneth Gustafson on Aug. 10,
1940 in Hurley. Together with Ken, she owned and operated Lucy and Ken's Piano
Lounge in Hurley until she sold the lounge in 1975. It was a very happy and
memorable part of their lives. A popular tradition at Lucy and Ken's was
taking photographs of their patrons from all over the United States and then
giving copies to them when they returned. Ken preceded Lucy in death in July
1973. A bellwether of the community, Lucy began her
60 years of volunteer work as a brownie scout leader. A lifelong member of St.
Mary's Catholic Church in Hurley, she belonged to the former St. Mary's Players,
served on the parish council, and was a member of the Council of Catholic
Women. She served as executive secretary for the
Winter Theater in Ironwood and helped host events and parties for stars coming
into the area, including Tyrone Power, Raymond Massey and Elsa Manchester. She
served as president of the Iron County Chapter of the American Cancer Society
for 25 years, was a longstanding member and past president of the former Hurley
Women's Club, a member of the former Ironwood Woman's Club, a member of the
Hurley Lioness, the Auxiliaries to both the Iron County Veterans of Foreign Wars
Post 1580 and Hurley American Legion Post 58, a member of the Gogebic Country
Club, a charter member and a member of the original board of directors, of
Eagle Bluff Golf Club, and volunteered as a Pink Lady at Grand View Hospital and
served on the original board of directors. Lucy was also a longtime member and dedicated
worker at Theatre North in Ironwood, and was a member of the Paisano Club of
Upper Michigan. She ushered and offered hospitality at the Ironwood Theater,
becoming a "Friend of the Ironwood Theater". She served on the Hurley Library
board of directors and worked with the Paavo Nurmi Marathon Committee making
sure runners had housing. She worked at Tahoe Lynx Golf Course in Mercer and
also sold Avon products in her spare time. Her hobbies included golf, skiing,
skating and traveling. Surviving are her twin children, Dean (Martha)
Gustafson and Deanna (John) Pierpont Jr., both of Mercer; four grandchildren,
Renee (Fred) Hable, Madison, John (Kim) Pierpont III, Mundelein, Il., Julie
(Brian) McNelis, Los Angeles, and Amy (Dr. Mike) Gennrich, Austin, Tx.; five
great-grandchildren, Brittany, John IV, Lauren and Tessa Pierpont and Lucy Rose
Gennrich; step-grandchildren, Frog (Carolyn) Prell, Superior; Laura (Mike) Curtis, Raleigh, NC, Cara (Dan) Stephens, Atlanta, GA, Dave (Sacheen) Prell, Boston, MA; step great-grandchildren, Regan and John Michael Curtis, Finn and Laramie Prell and Helen & Rece Stephens; and numerous nieces and nephews. Besides her parents and husband, she was
preceded in death by two brothers, Dean Rogers and Gildo Colasacco. In accordance with Lucy's wishes, cremation
has taken place. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated
Saturday, Aug. 14, at 11 a.m., at St. Mary's Church in Hurley, with the Rev.
Michael Hayden, celebrant. Rite of Committal will take place at the
church, with luncheon to follow in the parish hall. Private inurnment will be in St. Mary's
Cemetery, Hurley. Friends may call at the church from 10 to 11
a.m. on Saturday. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may
be made to the American Cancer Society, Hurley Public Library, or Theatre
North. To view Lucy's obituary online, sign the
guestbook or express condolences, visit
mckevittpatrickfuneralhome.com. Arrangements are entrusted to McKevitt-Patrick
Funeral Home and Cremation Services of Ironwood