Marie K. Levelius

RAMSAY, Mich. - Marie K. (Rocco) Levelius, 101, a longtime resident of Ramsay, passed away peacefully on Sunday, June 19, 2022, after a brief illness.

Marie was born on May 27, 1921, in Wakefield, a daughter of Emil and Tillie (Marita) Rocco. She attended Ramsay School and graduated from A.D. Johnston High School in Bessemer, with the class of 1938.

Marie's early years were spent during the summer on the Marita farm in Highbridge, Wisconsin. Her earliest job was working for the Hansen family from Chicago at their summer home on Bass Lake doing domestic work and caring for their young children. She later worked with her sister, Agnes, at a hemp mill in Hustisford, Wisconsin, and then at the Mellen, Wisconsin, Veneer Mill. It was at the farm in Highbridge where she met her future husband, Bill Levelius.

Marie and Bill wed on June 22, 1946, in Wakefield, after he returned home from the service. They had three children, Donna, David and Mark. Marie was a stay-at-home mom and returned to work after Mark had grown. She took a job at the Ramsay School as a hot lunch cook and later became head of this program. During retirement, she and her husband began cleaning ski chalets for Powderhorn Lodging to pass the winter months.

One of Marie's hobbies was gardening. In late summer it was not unusual to see her canning produce from the garden and entering it in the Gogebic County Fair. She was named homemaker of the year several times and her baked bread earned her grand champion ribbons enabling her to enter it in the U.P. State Fair in Escanaba.

Marie is survived by a daughter, Donna (Robert) Whitburn; two sons, Dave and Mark; six grandchildren, Robbie, Stacie (Ken), Megan (Joe), Josh, Matthew and Nathan; eight great-grandchildren, Paige, Mason, Chase, Cole, Connor, Willow, Hudson and little Tillie; several nieces and nephews; and many loving cousins.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her beloved husband, Bill; a granddaughter, Erin Levelius; a brother and sister-in-law, Joe and Mary Rocco; a sister, Agnes Flanders; and a nephew, Richard Obrey.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Monday, June 27, at 11 a.m., preceded by visitation at 10 a.m., at the Immaculate Conception Catholic Church, 407 Ascherman St., in Wakefield, with the Rev. Dominic Agyapong, celebrant.

Rite of Committal and interment will take place at the Mt. Hope Cemetery in Highbridge.

Jerald Rocco, owner and manager of Lakeside Memorial Chapel Inc., in Wakefield, is assisting the family. To send online condolences please go to lakesidememorialchapel.com.