Ernest Govednik

RAMSAY, Mich. — Ernest Govednik, of Ramsay, passed from this life Feb. 4, 2013.

He was born Oct. 31, 1921, to Angeline and Marko Govednik. He was their eighth child. Ernest graduated from Luther L. Wright High School, Ironwood, in 1939. He then joined the Civilian Conservation Corps and was assigned at Camp Gogebic.

On Dec. 27, 1941, he met Isabel Leoni. They were married June 27, 1942.

In April 1943, he was drafted into the United States Army, were he proudly served as a radio operator instructor. For that service, he received written commendations for the exceptional performance of his duties.

On Feb. 11, 1946, he was honorably discharged from military service. In November 1946, he began work at the Carey mines. He worked at many mines throughout the Gogebic Range. From those experiences, he shared many heartwarming stories that put meaning into the phrase the “great melting pot.” He started as a miner and worked his way to safety engineer. Upon his retirement, he was employed by the Federal Bureau of Mines as a safety inspector for mining operations in Michigan, Wisconsin and Minnesota.

For years he was a member Christ the King Church in Ramsay and served in the men’s club. He was a dedicated, hardworking husband and father. He shared his love of nature, animals and the forest with his children and grandchildren. He loved reading and learning about life in other parts of the world. He was generous to a fault with both his children and grandchildren. He found no greater pleasure than holding his young grandchildren.

Ernest is preceded in death by his parents; brothers, Anthony, Mark, John and Raymond; his sisters, Angeline, Anna, Mayme, Anges and Veronica; his children, Charles and Jean; and the love of his life, his wife and partner, Isabel.

He is survived by his children: son, Dennis, and wife Roseann, his daughters, Gail, and husband Jim Bednar, Debbie, and husband Robert Bastien, and Joan, and husband James West. He is also survived by grandchildren, Tim Bednar, Christy Freeman, Michelle Kuehl, Aubrey Jozefiak, Claudia Paredes, Nicholas West, Robert Bastien, Alec West and Serah Maragos. His great-grandchildren include Isaac and Amariah Jozefiak, Amelia, Nolan, Kessler and Truman Bednar, Kierstyn and Collin West, Jericho Kuehl, Isabel Paredes, Micah Maragos and Zoey West. He is survived by many nieces and nephews.

The family wishes to thank Ken and Bette Ahola and their family for being there for our father in his last years. We would also like to thank Mr. Potter, physician assistant, and Paul Sturgul, attorney, for taking time to listen to our father. It meant more to him than you knew.

He will be sadly missed by those who loved him.

Graveside services will be held at Riverside Cemetery in Ironwood on Friday, May 17, at 11:30 a.m. Ernest will be buried with his son, Charles, next to his wife, Isabel, and daughter, Jean.