Ellen E. Maslanka

HURLEY, Wis. - Ellen E. Maslanka, 89, of South Carey, Hurley, died peacefully Monday afternoon, June 20, 2016, at Villa Maria Health and Rehabilitation Center in Hurley, with her loving family by her side.

The former Ellen Salo was born May 26, 1927, in Oma, daughter of the late Victor and Emelia (Tunturi) Salo, attended the Oma State Graded School, and graduated from J.E. Murphy High School in Hurley in 1945. She lived in Park Falls then moved to Elgin, Ill., where she was employed at the Elgin Watch Factory.

On July 5, 1948, she married John W. Maslanka in Elgin. After raising their family, Ellen co-owned and operated the Gambles Hardware Store with John in downtown Ironwood, Mich., and Gambles in Gwinn, Mich. Returning to the area, they owned and operated Trustworthy Hardware in Ironwood until their retirement. John preceded Ellen in death on Aug. 25, 1997.

Ellen was a member of St. Mary's Catholic Church in Hurley. She loved gardening, baking, sewing and quilting. Her family was her life and her hobby.

Surviving are three sons, John (Leola), Gile, Charles (Stevie), Saxon, and Robert, Hurley; three daughters, Patricia (Gerald) Strand, Hurley, Joanne (Ed) Kuula, Montreal, and Lynn (Jeff) Stenroos, Waunakee; 10 grandchildren, Joe (Courtney) Maslanka, Matt Maslanka, Amber Symons (Justin), Amanda Maslanka, Laura Maslanka, Maya Strand, Miranda Wallis, Tianne Kuula, Emily Strand and Michael Wallis; four stepgrandchildren, Wendy Rahko, and Monty, Carson and Shay Stenroos; six great-grandchildren, Gracie, Peyton, Mya, Lily, Ally and Jace; numerous nieces and nephews; and brothers- and sisters-in-law, Walter and Dorothy Maslanka, Bessemer, Mich., Irene Bonato, Ironwood, Katie and Robert Metzner, Oconto Falls, Clare and Norbert Gross, Green Bay, Mary and Allen Sande, Waukesha, and Margaret Taetch, Iron River, Mich.

Besides her parents and husband, Ellen was preceded in death by a grandson, Corey Maslanka; brothers, Arvid, Eino and Neilo Salo; and sisters, Impi Salo, Eileen Hakala, Aunie Saari, Lempi Enkkeli and Helmi Taivalmaa.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated Monday, June 27, at 11 a.m., preceded by visitation at 10 a.m., at St. Mary's Church in Hurley, with the Rev. Frank Kordek OFM, celebrant.

Rite of Committal and interment will follow in St. Mary's Cemetery, Hurley.

Pallbearers will be John Maslanka, Charles Maslanka, Robert Maslanka, Gerald Strand, Ed Kuula, Jeff Stenroos and Joe Maslanka.

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

A special thank you to the Villa Maria Health and Rehabilitation Center staff and Dr. Pogliano for all of their compassionate care over the past three years.