Obituary for Mary Lee Yatchak
Mary Lee Yatchak, 76, of
Ironwood, Mich., died Dec. 26, 2010 in Hurley at the Villa Maria Health and
Rehabilitation Center after a brave battle with cancer. Born Mary Lee Laird in Matchwood, Mich, on Jan. 30, 1934,
daughter of Ruben and Melba (Stindt) Laird, she attended grade schools in Topaz
and Bergland, Mich. before moving to Ironwood. She later attended Ironwood
schools and graduated from Luther L. Wright High School in 1952. She attended Michigan State University
receiving a Bachelor of Arts degree in Accounting in 1956. Later she received a
Bachelor of Science degree in Business Education from Northern Michigan
University and a Masters Degree in Education from the University of
Minnesota. Mary Lee began her business career as an
accountant for Alexander Grant in Chicago. In 1959, she moved to Ironwood and
taught business courses at the Ironwood High School and Gogebic Community
College. She retired in 1994 after teaching for 35 years. Mary Lee was on the Gogebic Community College
Board of Trustees, Michigan Association of Retired Personnel, Pikes Creek Keel
Club, a volunteer at DOVE, and received the honors of "Distinguished College
Faculty" and "Outstanding Foundation Board Member" at GCC. On Sept. 5, 1964 she married Jerome Yatchak in
Ironwood at St. Ambrose Church. Some of her other loves were sailing the
Apostle Islands on Lake Superior, tennis, bridge and smear, reading novels, and
her daily walks through Riverside Cemetery. She was often the life of the party
while cooking gourmet meals and entertaining her family and friends. Even to the
end of her life, Mary Lee had a positive outlook, a quick wit, and a welcoming
and everlasting smile. Mary Lee is preceded in death by her parents
Ruben and Melba (Stindt) Laird, first husband Raymond Koskela, and brother James
Laird. Mary Lee is survived by her husband of 46
years, Jerome Yatchak; her two daughters, Katherine Yatchak, Anchorage, Alaska,
and Lisa Boerum, Corona, Calif.; sisters-in-law and brother-in-law, Joan Laird,
Hilton Head, S.C., Paula Yatchak, Green Bay, Wisc., and Joyce (Yatchak) and Phil
Schneider, Davison, Mich.; and great aunt Mary Condon, Fayetteville, Ark. She is
also survived by five nephews, two nieces, and many cousins. A private funeral service will be held at a
later date with family members. Spring burial will be in Riverside Cemetery,
Ironwood. Memorial contributions can be made to the
American Cancer Society or the Gogebic Community College
Foundation. Mary Lee's obituary may be viewed online, and
condolences given to her family, at mckevittpatrickfuneralhome.com. We will deeply miss her smiles, laughter, warm
personality, and humor. Her family would like to extend their great appreciation
and thanks for the compassionate care and love shown by all at the Villa
Maria Health and Rehabilitation Center. Arrangements are entrusted to McKevitt-Patrick Funeral Home Inc., Ironwood.
Ironwood, Mich., died Dec. 26, 2010 in Hurley at the Villa Maria Health and
Rehabilitation Center after a brave battle with cancer. Born Mary Lee Laird in Matchwood, Mich, on Jan. 30, 1934,
daughter of Ruben and Melba (Stindt) Laird, she attended grade schools in Topaz
and Bergland, Mich. before moving to Ironwood. She later attended Ironwood
schools and graduated from Luther L. Wright High School in 1952. She attended Michigan State University
receiving a Bachelor of Arts degree in Accounting in 1956. Later she received a
Bachelor of Science degree in Business Education from Northern Michigan
University and a Masters Degree in Education from the University of
Minnesota. Mary Lee began her business career as an
accountant for Alexander Grant in Chicago. In 1959, she moved to Ironwood and
taught business courses at the Ironwood High School and Gogebic Community
College. She retired in 1994 after teaching for 35 years. Mary Lee was on the Gogebic Community College
Board of Trustees, Michigan Association of Retired Personnel, Pikes Creek Keel
Club, a volunteer at DOVE, and received the honors of "Distinguished College
Faculty" and "Outstanding Foundation Board Member" at GCC. On Sept. 5, 1964 she married Jerome Yatchak in
Ironwood at St. Ambrose Church. Some of her other loves were sailing the
Apostle Islands on Lake Superior, tennis, bridge and smear, reading novels, and
her daily walks through Riverside Cemetery. She was often the life of the party
while cooking gourmet meals and entertaining her family and friends. Even to the
end of her life, Mary Lee had a positive outlook, a quick wit, and a welcoming
and everlasting smile. Mary Lee is preceded in death by her parents
Ruben and Melba (Stindt) Laird, first husband Raymond Koskela, and brother James
Laird. Mary Lee is survived by her husband of 46
years, Jerome Yatchak; her two daughters, Katherine Yatchak, Anchorage, Alaska,
and Lisa Boerum, Corona, Calif.; sisters-in-law and brother-in-law, Joan Laird,
Hilton Head, S.C., Paula Yatchak, Green Bay, Wisc., and Joyce (Yatchak) and Phil
Schneider, Davison, Mich.; and great aunt Mary Condon, Fayetteville, Ark. She is
also survived by five nephews, two nieces, and many cousins. A private funeral service will be held at a
later date with family members. Spring burial will be in Riverside Cemetery,
Ironwood. Memorial contributions can be made to the
American Cancer Society or the Gogebic Community College
Foundation. Mary Lee's obituary may be viewed online, and
condolences given to her family, at mckevittpatrickfuneralhome.com. We will deeply miss her smiles, laughter, warm
personality, and humor. Her family would like to extend their great appreciation
and thanks for the compassionate care and love shown by all at the Villa
Maria Health and Rehabilitation Center. Arrangements are entrusted to McKevitt-Patrick Funeral Home Inc., Ironwood.