Obituary for Martha L. Perkins
The first born of Finnish immigrant parents,
Hjalmer John Jalonen and Fanny Marie Lantela, Martha was born Sept. 18, 1917, in
Ironwood.
She attended the River Branch School in Kimball,
Wis. and was employed as a maid and housekeeper in Highland Park, Ill. for
several years.
She was united in marriage to James B. Perkins
on Feb. 1, 1941, in Dubuque, Iowa. While James served his country in the U.S.
Army in Iceland and England during World War II, Martha lived with her parents
in Kimball and helped on the family farm. Following James's return from the
service, the couple moved to Milwaukee, Wis., residing there for 30 years, where
Martha was employed as a sales associate for Lerner Shops and as a cook at John
Marshall Junior/Senior High School, retiring in 1976 and moving to Sunset Road
in Ironwood Township. James preceded Martha in death on Dec. 10,
1997.
Martha loved unconditionally and was
absolutely fair minded. She often marveled over the sheer numbers of her
grandchildren.
She was a member of the Iron Co. Senior
Citizens and enjoyed her smear games at the Hurley Senior Center. She was also a
member of the National Finnish American Festival Inc. She strove to impart to
her family her love of her Finnish heritage and interest in politics and her
love of reading.
Surviving are a son, James J. (Linda),
Menomonee Falls, Wis.; two daughters, Marjorie Mickelson, Ironwood, and Marlene
(Gerald) Bruce, Ann Arbor, Mich.; eight grandchildren, Jayne (Brad) Beran,
Concord, N.C.; Diana Mickelson, Montreal, Wis.; Robert (Karen) Mickelson,
Superior, Wis.; Jon (Heather) Mickelson, Ironwood; Jill (Bill) Carver, Ramsay,
Mich.; Roland "Joe" Vinson, Laramie, Wyo.; Ann (Mark) Pomush, Green Bay,
Wis.; and Michael (Kris) Imobersteg, Milwaukee; 19 great-grandchildren; her
beloved sister, Elsie (Toivo) Sipponen, Ironwood Township; and numerous nieces
and nephews.
Besides her parents and husband, Martha was
preceded in death by a son-in-law, Pastor Bob Mickelson, Sept. 17,
2007.
Funeral services will be held Wednesday, March
31, at 11 a.m., at the Woodland Church, N-10234 Curry Rd., Ironwood Township,
with Pastor Paul Stout officiating.
Committal will take place at the church, with
luncheon to follow in the church fellowship hall.
Private interment will be in Sunset
Acres Cemetery, Ironwood Township, later this spring.
Relatives and friends may call from 6 to 8
p.m. on Tuesday, March 30, at the McKevitt-Patrick Funeral Home, 305 N. Lowell
St., in Ironwood, and again from 10 a.m. until the time of service at the church
on Wednesday.
Pallbearers will be Rob and Jon Mickelson,
Gerald Bruce, Roland "Joe" Vinson, Russell Sipponen, and Michael
Imobersteg.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the National
Finnish American Festival Inc., P.O. Box 352, Hurley, Wis. 54534.
To view Martha's obituary online, sign her guestbook and express
condolences, visit mckevittpatrickfuneralhome.com.
Arrangements are entrusted to McKevitt-Patrick Funeral Home Inc.,
Ironwood.
"We
put our trust and faith in God" Reunited!
Hjalmer John Jalonen and Fanny Marie Lantela, Martha was born Sept. 18, 1917, in
Ironwood.
She attended the River Branch School in Kimball,
Wis. and was employed as a maid and housekeeper in Highland Park, Ill. for
several years.
She was united in marriage to James B. Perkins
on Feb. 1, 1941, in Dubuque, Iowa. While James served his country in the U.S.
Army in Iceland and England during World War II, Martha lived with her parents
in Kimball and helped on the family farm. Following James's return from the
service, the couple moved to Milwaukee, Wis., residing there for 30 years, where
Martha was employed as a sales associate for Lerner Shops and as a cook at John
Marshall Junior/Senior High School, retiring in 1976 and moving to Sunset Road
in Ironwood Township. James preceded Martha in death on Dec. 10,
1997.
Martha loved unconditionally and was
absolutely fair minded. She often marveled over the sheer numbers of her
grandchildren.
She was a member of the Iron Co. Senior
Citizens and enjoyed her smear games at the Hurley Senior Center. She was also a
member of the National Finnish American Festival Inc. She strove to impart to
her family her love of her Finnish heritage and interest in politics and her
love of reading.
Surviving are a son, James J. (Linda),
Menomonee Falls, Wis.; two daughters, Marjorie Mickelson, Ironwood, and Marlene
(Gerald) Bruce, Ann Arbor, Mich.; eight grandchildren, Jayne (Brad) Beran,
Concord, N.C.; Diana Mickelson, Montreal, Wis.; Robert (Karen) Mickelson,
Superior, Wis.; Jon (Heather) Mickelson, Ironwood; Jill (Bill) Carver, Ramsay,
Mich.; Roland "Joe" Vinson, Laramie, Wyo.; Ann (Mark) Pomush, Green Bay,
Wis.; and Michael (Kris) Imobersteg, Milwaukee; 19 great-grandchildren; her
beloved sister, Elsie (Toivo) Sipponen, Ironwood Township; and numerous nieces
and nephews.
Besides her parents and husband, Martha was
preceded in death by a son-in-law, Pastor Bob Mickelson, Sept. 17,
2007.
Funeral services will be held Wednesday, March
31, at 11 a.m., at the Woodland Church, N-10234 Curry Rd., Ironwood Township,
with Pastor Paul Stout officiating.
Committal will take place at the church, with
luncheon to follow in the church fellowship hall.
Private interment will be in Sunset
Acres Cemetery, Ironwood Township, later this spring.
Relatives and friends may call from 6 to 8
p.m. on Tuesday, March 30, at the McKevitt-Patrick Funeral Home, 305 N. Lowell
St., in Ironwood, and again from 10 a.m. until the time of service at the church
on Wednesday.
Pallbearers will be Rob and Jon Mickelson,
Gerald Bruce, Roland "Joe" Vinson, Russell Sipponen, and Michael
Imobersteg.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the National
Finnish American Festival Inc., P.O. Box 352, Hurley, Wis. 54534.
To view Martha's obituary online, sign her guestbook and express
condolences, visit mckevittpatrickfuneralhome.com.
Arrangements are entrusted to McKevitt-Patrick Funeral Home Inc.,
Ironwood.
"We
put our trust and faith in God" Reunited!