Ellen A. Korpi

Ellen was born November 16, 1920, in Princeton, MI to Andrew and Jennie (Hill) Keskimaki. She was very proud of her Finnish heritage and had plenty of Sisu. She graduated from Gwinn high school, class of 1939. Ellen worked as a waitress at Ma Hill’s Cafe in Negaunee, as a seamstress at the H. W. Gossard Company in Ishpeming and as a sales clerk at the J.C. Penny’s catalog department store in Ishpeming.

Ellen enjoyed baking and always had fresh goodies in her larder along with hot coffee always in the thermos. She also loved to travel and enjoyed talking about all the places she and her husband had traveled to, throughout the United States. She was also proud of having twice walked across the Mackinac Bridge on Labor Day. In her later years, she played cribbage at the Ishpeming and Negaunee Senior Centers and even got a 29 hand once. She volunteered her time at the DJ Jacobetti Home for Veterans in Marquette. Ellen was a member of the Bethel Lutheran Church of Ishpeming and a lifetime member of the VFW Auxiliary.

Ellen is survived by 2 children: Edward (Laurie) Korpi of Ishpeming and Gloria (G. Michael) Slade of Naples, FL, grandchildren: Erik (Andrea) Korpi, Matthew (Karen Young) Korpi, Elizabeth (Chad) Pawlak, Michael (Kari) Korpi, Edward J. (Eryn) Korpi, Martin Korpi, Michael T. (Ivett) Slade, Joel (Christina) Slade, Eric Slade, Greg (Patty) Slade, Mark Slade, and several great grandchildren, nieces and nephews.

Ellen was preceded in death by her parents, husband George, daughter-in-law Mary (Cherrette) Korpi, great grandson Abraham Korpi, six sisters: Elsie Anderson, Eleanor Elsner, Irene Heino, Bertha Soyring, Elaine Bollero, and Marilyn Cholette, and three brothers: Arthur, George and Albert Keskimaki.

The family of Ellen Korpi wish to send our heartfelt thanks to the staff at MCMCF Nursing Home and especially to those of the 300 wing who took such good care of Ellen.

Ellen’s family will greet relatives and friends from 10:00-11:00 am on Friday November 16, 2018 at the Bethel Lutheran Church in Ishpeming where funeral services will be held at 11:00 am with Rev. Lauri O. Maki officiating.

A luncheon will follow in the church fellowship hall.

Interment will take place in the Ishpeming Cemetery.

Memorials may be directed to the Bethel Lutheran Church Memorial Fund in memory of Ellen.

Ellen’s obituary may be viewed at bjorkandzhulkie.com where relatives and friends may leave a note of remembrance.