Mary Helen Milakovich

HURLEY, Wis. - Mary Helen Milakovich died peacefully on the morning of Wednesday, Jan. 10, 2018, at the Villa Maria Health and Rehabilitation Center in Hurley.

The former Mary Helen McMinn, daughter of the late Josephine (Yankosky) and Francis McMinn, was born Aug. 17, 1925, in Bessemer, Mich., and graduated from A.D. Johnston High School in 1943. She married the late Nick Milakovich in Bessemer, with the Rev. Robert Larson of the First Presbyterian Church presiding.

Mary was a lifelong resident of Bessemer. For 80 years, she was a member of First Presbyterian Church in Bessemer, where she served as an elder. When the Bessemer church closed, she joined the First Presbyterian Church in Hurley. She also served on the Jury Board Commission in Bessemer.

Besides her parents, Mary was preceded in death by her husband, Nick, two brothers, Francis and Robert, and three sisters, Jean (Robert) Mohn, Ada (John) Sakalos and Ruther (Emil) Pesonen, and two stepsons, Nick and Terry.

Survivors include a son and daughter-in-law, James and Jeannie, of Ironwood, Mich., a daughter, Jean Blazak, of Waterford, Mich .; four grandchildren, Jennifer (Seth) Pavlovich, Jamie (Cory) Erickson, James and Nicholas Blazak; four great-grandchildren, Ella, Ethan, Chase and Connor; and many nieces and nephews.

Mary loved her family dearly and all have pleasant memories of days spent with her. She followed the Green Bay Packers and the Bessemer Speedboys. She was a tremendous fan of anything Bessemer.

The family extends its gratitude to the staff of Aspirus Grand View Hospital for their compassionate care and to the staff at the Villa Maria for the many kindnesses and loving care Mary had the past two years.

Private family services will be held. Range Funeral Services and Crematory and Frick-Zielinski Funeral Home, Bessemer, is assisting the family with arrangements. Online condolences can be left at rangefuneralservices.com.