Susan Kay (Sue) Halama

CALUMET, Mich. - Susan Kay (Sue) Halama, 72, of Calumet, passed away peacefully on April 28 at her home with her husband of nearly 51 years and her son by her side, following a short, but courageous, battle with cancer.

Susan was born in Detroit on Feb. 10, 1943, to the late William and Martha (Koski) Goninan. Shortly after her birth, Sue and her parents moved to Calumet where she spent her early childhood and attended Washington Grade School. Midway through grade school, Sue's parents moved to Ontonagon where she completed grade school. Following another family move, Sue attended Roosevelt Middle School in Ironwood and graduated from Luther L. Wright High School in 1961. Following high school graduation, Sue attended Gogebic Community College in Ironwood.

In 1963, Sue moved to South Milwaukee, Wis., where she was employed as a keypunch verifier for Bucyrus-Erie Company.

On July 25, 1964, Sue married Robert J. (Bob) Halama in a candlelight service at Zion Lutheran Church in Ironwood. Following their honeymoon trip, they returned to South Milwaukee where she continued to work for Bucyrus-Erie until Bob graduated from the Milwaukee School of Engineering (MSOE) in September 1965. Prior to Bob's graduation, Sue received the PHT Award (Putting Hubby Through) from the MSOE Chapter of Triangle Fraternity.

The family then moved to Piqua, Ohio, where Sue worked as a stay-at-home Mom to her daughter, born in Wisconsin, and a son, born in Piqua in 1971. In 1977, they moved to Michigan City, Ind., where they remained until Bob's retirement in March of 2008. While in Michigan City, Sue owned and operated The Craft Coop and Gift Shop, a retail craft supply and craft consignment shop, for many years. Following Bob's retirement, Sue and Bob moved to Calumet.

Sue thoroughly loved living in Calumet, and always considered it home. Since moving to Calumet, Sue and Bob have been living in a home that has always been part of her family. Sue's grandparents were the first to live in the home, and her mother was born in the house 106 years ago. When her parents returned to Calumet from Detroit, they also lived in the house. When Sue and her parents lived in Ontonagon and Ironwood, they made round-trips to Calumet almost every weekend to care for her grandmother (Martha's mother). Following Sue's parents' retirement, they updated the Calumet home and moved there for their remaining years. Sue and Bob then remodeled the home prior to their move from Indiana.

On July 26, 2014, Sue and Bob celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary with a dinner party with friends hosted by their son, Gregory.

Sue was a crafter and participated in numerous craft shows and fairs in Ohio, Indiana and Michigan. She enjoyed making floral arrangements, printed sayings, home decor decorations, holiday ornaments and trim. Sue also enjoyed going to the lakeshore to collect rocks and driftwood for future craft projects, driving through the Copper Country, and pasty picnics.

She was a member of Faith Lutheran Church in Calumet where she enjoyed Tuesday afternoon quilting, monthly visits to four area nursing homes, weekly ecumenical services, and singing in the choir. No matter where she lived, Sue was always very active in her church's activities, and served as president of the woman's group numerous times in Ohio and Indiana. She also served many terms on the church council while in Indiana. In addition to her church activities in Calumet, Sue was active in AGLOW, Copper Country Red Hatters and Calumet Woman's Club.

Sue was preceded in death by her parents; a stillborn sister, Gail Marie; and a stillborn son, David Allen.

She is survived by her husband, Bob; daughter, Karen Hartsock of Michigan City; son, Gregory of Calumet; granddaughters, Stephanie and Sophia Hartsock; grandsons, Branden and Brayden Hartsock in Michigan City; grandson, Hunter Slucter and granddaughter, Kristen Slucter in LaPorte, Indiana; sister-in-law, Darlene (Frank) Reeves in Friday Harbor, Wash .; and numerous cousins, three of whom she considered special: Jim (Darlene) Koski in Lincoln, Neb., Douglas (Beryl) Goninan in Idaho Falls, Idaho, and Lloyd "Junior" (Mabel) Goninan in Lake Linden.

Sue touched many lives and will be sadly missed by her husband, family and numerous friends in Piqua, Michigan City and Calumet.

Friends may call at the Erickson-Crowley-Peterson Funeral Home in Calumet on Wednesday, May 6, 2015, from 4 p.m. until 8 p.m.

Funeral services will be held at Faith Lutheran Church in Calumet at 11 a.m. on Thursday, May 7, 2015, with the Rev. Peter Vorhes officiating.

Visitation at the church will be held for one hour prior to the service. A private family burial will be held in Lakeview Cemetery in Calumet later in the day. A celebration luncheon to honor Sue's life will be held at the church following the service.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorials be made to Faith Lutheran Church, 26016 Depot St., P.O. Box 523, Calumet, MI 49913.

The Erickson Crowley Peterson Funeral Home in Calumet is assisting the family with the arrangements. Online condolences can be left for the family at ericksoncrowleypeterson.com.