Sylvia S. Pelkola

HURLEY, Wis. — Sylvia S. Pelkola, 98, of Hurley, died peacefully on Tuesday, May 21, 2013, at Villa Maria Health and Rehabilitation Center in Hurley, following a brief illness.

Sylvia was born Jan. 27, 1915, in Ironwood, Mich., daughter of the late Stephen and Marie (Jokela) Aho. The family moved to Saxon in 1921. She attended grade school at Simon School in rural Saxon, and graduated as valedictorian of Saxon High School with the class of 1933.

Sylvia was a longtime member of the Kimball Homemakers Club and was recently honored as one of Kimball’s oldest residents during Kimball’s Centennial Dinner. She enjoyed crocheting, baking, and traveling, and she was an avid crossword puzzle fan. She was employed in housekeeping jobs in the area.

On March 4, 1939, she was united in marriage with John Pelkola. They made their home in Kimball, where she had resided since. John preceded her in death on July 28, 1968.

Also preceding her in death were her parents; two sisters, Lempi Cross and Katherine Boyle; two brothers, Laurie and Waino; and a daughter-in-law, Shirley Pelkola.

Sylvia is survived by two sons, Gary, of Hurley, and Richard (Linda), of Boise, Idaho; one daughter, Joyce (Adelord) LeGeault, of Silver Bay, Minn .; seven grandchildren, Cindy (Grant) Durhman, Tammy (Donnie) Mille, Greg (Debbie) LeGeault, Todd (Jodi) Pelkola, Janet (Colin) DiGiorgio, Jill Frankhauser and John R. Pelkola; 12 great-grandchildren; and sisters-in-law, Helvie Pelkola and Betty Pelkola.

As per Sylvia’s wishes, cremation has taken place at the Range Crematory in Hurley.

A celebration of life will be held later this summer in Hurley.

The family would like to thank the staff at Villa Maria for their excellent and compassionate care over the years.

Arrangements are by Range Funeral Service and Crematory, Ketola-Burla Funeral Home of Ironwood.