Lucille E. Palmquist, 89, of 711 Hedin Ave., Ironwood, died Friday morning, Feb. 20, 2009, in Ironwood. The former Lucille Laabs was born Jan. 17, 1920, in Ashland, Wis., daughter of the late A.P. and Katherine (Pezackie) Laabs, attended Ironwood schools, and graduated from L.L. Wright High School in 1937. She then attended and graduated from Ironwood Junior College. Lucille worked as a bookkeeper for her father in his housemoving business, and was a postal inspector in Ironwood. Prior to World War II, she took a civil service job at the headquarters at Selfridge Air Force base near Mt. Clemens. While at Selfridge, she translated German and Polish languages at Wayne State University in Detroit. Following the war, she returned to Ironwood and worked for the Oliver Iron Mining Co. in the payroll and legal department. She worked briefly as a secretary for Ed Massie, Ironwood attorney, and as office manager at O'Donnell-Seamans in downtown Ironwood in the late 1940's and early 1950's. She then was employed as bookkeeper at Gogebic Auto Co., Red's Auto, Great Northern Laundry and C&L Auto, retiring in 1980. Lucille was a member of Our Lady of Peace Catholic Church in Ironwood and a former member of Holy Trinity Catholic Church, where she served on the parish council and as church secretary, and was past president of the Altar Society. Her volunteer and social activities included Ethnic Community Days, PTA on the local, district and regional level, charter member of the Eagles Auxiliary, Auxiliary to Ironwood Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 1823, Junior Women's Club, Ironwood Women's Club, charter member of Gogebic-Iron Church Women United, officer in the Business and Professional Women's Club, Daughters of Isabella, Iron County Senior Center, Grand View Hospital Auxiliary, Rebekahs, and three-year member of the Wakefield Senior Citizens. She loved dancing to polka music. She was married to Robert G. Palmquist who preceded her in death on Nov. 20, 1982. Surviving are two sons, Darrel (Lynn), Ironwood, and Craig (Linda), Sacramento, Calif.; seven grandchildren and five great-grandchildren; and numerous nieces, nephews and cousins. Besides her parents and husband, she was preceded in death by a brother, Donald Laabs. At the family's request, cremation has taken place. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated Tuesday, Feb. 24, at 11 a.m., at Our Lady of Peace Catholic Church in Ironwood, with the Rev. Darryl J. Pepin, celebrant. Rite of Committal will follow in the St. Joseph Family Room at the church. Spring inurnment will be in Riverside Cemetery, Ironwood. Relatives and friends may call in the St. Joseph Family Room at the church from 10 to 11 a.m.on Tuesday. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Our Lady of Peace Adopt-A-Student Program, 108 So. Marquette St., Ironwood, Mich. 49938. To view Lucille's obituary online, sign the guestbook and express condolences, visit mckevittpatrickfuneralhome.com. Arrangements are with McKevitt-Patrick Funeral Home and Cremation Services of Ironwood