Serving Gogebic, Iron and Ontonagon Counties
Serving Gogebic, Iron and Ontonagon Counties
WAKEFIELD, Mich. - Robert A. "Red" Synkelma, 76, of Ironwood, died Tuesday, April 1, 2014, at Gogebic Medical Care Facility in Wakefield.
Red was born Feb. 27, 1938, in Bessemer Township, son of Minnie (Kujala) and the late John Synkelma, attended Puritan Grade School, and graduated from A. D. Johnston High School in 1957. He worked at Lutey's Greenhouse in Ironwood for a short time, then moved to Kenosha, Wis., where he worked at American Motors for six years. Returning to Ironwood, he worked at Simpson Electric in Mercer, Wis., then was employed as a driller/blaster at White Pine Copper Co. for 20 years, retiring due to ill health in 1986.
On Aug. 15, 1959, he was married to the former Charlene Ostlund at the Newport Methodist Church in Ironwood by the Rev. George Luciani.
Red was a member of Zion Lutheran Church in Ironwood. He enjoyed hunting, fishing, camping, riding his Harley-Davidson motorcycles and ski jumping for the Racine, Wis., Ski Club. He especially enjoyed traveling with his wife and family, Copper Harbor and Nashville, Tenn., being his favorite places. A wonderful son, husband, dad, grandpa, nephew and cousin, he will be dearly missed.
Surviving are his wife, Charlene, of 54 years; a son, Terry, Ironwood; two daughters, Robin (Jeffrey) Johnson, Washburn, Wis., and Kimberly (Scott) Jaeger, Ironwood; his mother, Minnie Synkelma, Wakefield; three grandchildren, Dana (John) Welch, Bondi Beach, Australia, Christopher Johnson, Washburn, and Alyssa Synkelma (Christopher Hahn), Eau Claire, Wis .; three stepgrandchildren, Stefanie (Michael) Korpela, Ashland, Wis., Stacie (Andy) Brownlow, Sayner, Wis., and Bryan Jaeger, Mellen, Wis .; one stepgreat-grandson, Myles Brownlow; and numerous aunts, uncles and cousins.
Besides his father, Red was predeceased by a grandson, Ryan Johnson, in 1984.
Out of respect for his wishes, cremation has taken place.
Private family services will be held at a later date.
Arrangements have been entrusted to McKevitt-Patrick Funeral Home and Cremation Services of Ironwood. Condolences may be offered online at mckevittpatrickfuneralhome.com.
