Vivian Fannie (Olkonen) Synkelma

HURLEY, Wis. - Vivian Fannie (Olkonen) Synkelma, 91, of Country Club Road in Ironwood Township, passed away unexpectedly due to COVID-19 on Friday, Nov. 20, 2020, at the Villa Maria Health and Rehabilitation Center in Hurley where she had resided for the past two years.

Vivian was born on May 15, 1929, in Crystal Falls, Michigan, daughter of Matt and Fannie (Peltomaki) Olkonen. The family moved to Ironwood in 1937 where she attended local grade schools and graduated from Luther L.Wright High School.

Vivian was a lifelong member of St. Paul Lutheran Church in Ironwood.

On July 14, 1951, she married Hugo Synkelma. He preceded her in death in 2008 after 57 years of marriage.

Vivian enjoyed taking pictures, going to the casinos, playing bingo and scratching off her weekly lottery tickets - always hoping to win that million dollars! Jeopardy was her favorite television show, and she was good at crossword puzzles and word games. Her dictionary and her medical book were both well used!

Most of all, Vivian loved her family. Over the years she wrote poetry and stories of her life that her family will always treasure. She was fun, smart and artistic, and very much loved by her family.

She is survived by daughters, Sharon (Don) Niemi of Quinnesec, Michigan, and Gale (Stan) Halford of Forrest City, Arkansas; son, Steve (Michelle) Synkelma of Ironwood; grandchildren, Jeff, Joann, Justin, Joshua, Anthony, Ava, Tawny and Austin; great-grandchildren, Erynn, Ethan, Ella, Jakey, Ayron and Kayce; and two-year-old great-great-granddaughter, Lewellyn.

In addition to her parents and husband, Vivian was preceded in death by a son, Gale`s twin brother, Dale Synkelma; a granddaughter, Jordon Halford; a sister, Emily Edwards; and brothers, Hjalmer, Jorma, Albert, Oliver and her twin brother, Henry.

Vivian will be dearly missed, never forgotten, and will always be in our hearts.

Because of COVID-19, a graveside service will be held at a later date.

Interment will be in Riverside Cemetery in Ironwood in the spring.

The family has chosen McKevitt-Patrick Funeral Home of Ironwood to honor Vivian's legacy of life. You can leave a condolence or a tribute at mckevittpatrickfuneralhome.com.