Esther E. Kluhsman

ASHLAND, Wis. - Esther E. Kluhsman, 91, a life-long Hurley resident, passed away peacefully, Wednesday, Dec. 9, 2015, at Golden Living Court Manor in Ashland.

The former Esther Mattson was born on the family farm in the town of Carey on March 20, 1924, daughter of the late Matt and Hilma (Kokkonen) Mattson. Following her graduation from Lincoln High School, Hurley, in 1942, Esther was briefly employed by Allis-Chalmers in Milwaukee before she enlisted as a Wave in the U.S. Navy on June 29, 1944. Esther received an honorable discharge on April 5, 1946, after proudly serving her country stateside as a Hospital Apprentice First Class during World War II. Upon her release, Esther returned to work at Allis-Chalmers.

Esther was united in marriage to Roland W. Kluhsman on May 29, 1948, at the Zion Lutheran parsonage in Ironwood, Mich., by the late Reverend Jacob Hirvi.

Together, they raised their family of four, just down the road from the Mattson family farm on Island Lake Road in South Carey.

Esther was preceded in death by Roland on March 28, 1992.

Esther was a member of Zion Lutheran Church in Ironwood. She enjoyed reading, baking pies and cookies, playing cribbage and Scrabble, camping with her husband, Roland, at Island Lake, and lengthy strolls from her former home in South Carey to town and back. Her favorite pastime was watching her grandchildren perform vocal and instrumental music.

Esther had been a resident at Southgate Village, Hurley, for 19 years.

Surviving are a son, Kurt (Penny), Hurley; two daughters, Kristine (Vincent) Castagna, Sun Prairie, and Eloise (Richard) Baldauf, Sedona, Ariz .; two grandchildren, Kristopher and Holly Kluhsman, both of Hurley; a dearly beloved twin sister, Julia Capriolo, West Bend; sister-in-law, Althea Nelson, Columbia City, Ind .; special cousin, Carl Kinnunen, Ironwood; and numerous nieces, nephews and other family members.

In addition to her parents and husband, Esther was predeceased by a daughter, Lynn Kluhsman, in 1971; five brothers, and one sister-in-law, Matt, Charles, Wayne, Raymond and William (Sylvia) Mattson; six sisters, and seven brothers-in-law, Ida (Jack) Hill, Martha (Sulo) Kangas, Ann (Frank) Autio, Lily (Lenny) Sorenson, Elsie (Clarence) Rinto, Pearl (John) DaRonco, and Sam Capriolo.

The family wishes to thank the Golden Manor ACU staff for the kind and compassionate care of our Mother.

Funeral services will be held Saturday, Dec. 19, at Zion Lutheran Church, 100 W. Midland Ave., Ironwood, at 11 a.m., with visitation beginning at 10 a.m. Pastor Kurt Kovanen will officiate.

A flag presentation ceremony will be accorded to Esther by a combination of members from the Hurley American Legion Post 58 and the Iron County VFW Post 1580 Honor Guard.

A luncheon will follow in the church fellowship hall, located in the basement of Zion Lutheran Church.

Committal and interment will be held in the spring of 2016, at the Hurley Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be sent in honor of Esther to Zion Lutheran Church, Ironwood.

Special thanks to the Alzheimer's Care Unit at Golden Living Center, Court Manor, Ashland, for their special care and compassion during Esther's stay.

Arrangements have been entrusted to McKevitt-Patrick Funeral Home, Inc., Ironwood. Condolences may be expressed online at mckevittpatrickfuneralhome.com.