1948
Charlotte
2014
Charlotte "Char" (Paulsen) Nikunen
March 8, 1948 — January 22, 2014
Wetmore
Charlotte Ann (Paulsen) Nikunen, age 65, of Powell Lake Road, Wetmore, died unexpectedly at her home on Wednesday afternoon, January 22, 2014. She was born on March 8, 1948 in Naubinway, Michigan to the late Charles "Cedar" and Fern (King) Paulsen. The family moved to Munising when Char was a young girl and she graduated from Sacred Heart School and then Wm. G. Mather High School in 1966. She married Edward Johns, Sr. on June 29, 1968 at Sacred Heart. Char was a homemaker and raised their five children. She was a member of the Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians and she worked for the health clinic at the tribal center in Wetmore, and then for the Adult Learning Center. On May 17, 1993, Char married Rick Nikunen. She was managing the Knotty Pines Resort in Wetmore for two of her sons. When customers called to make reservations, they could always ask for "Grandma Char." She enjoyed taking care of the customers, baking in the kitchen for the guests, and morning coffee on the porch in the summertime. Char also enjoyed knitting, crocheting, cooking for family and friends, playing "Candy Crush," and her animals. She was a wonderful and loving woman who was a steady constant in the lives of her husband, children, grandchildren, and siblings.
She is survived by her husband of over twenty years - Rick Nikunen of Wetmore; five children - Edward (Cathy) Johns, Jr. of Marengo, Illinois, Dennis (Jennifer) Johns of Limestone, Michigan, Michael (Rebecca) Johns of Enterprise, Alabama, Karen (Chet) Ransom of Burlington, North Dakota, and Robert "B.J." (Blaine) Johns of Pleasant Lake, Michigan; grandchildren - Julia, Jordon, Meghan, Erik, Kyla, Abby, Dennis "D.J.", Brittany, Michael II, Matthew, Jordan, Molly, Daniel "Spud", Cody, Tanner, Nonni, Maddison, Robert II, and Brody; great-grandchildren - Wyatt and Natalie; brothers - Charles (Bernice) Paulsen of Wyoming and Cary "Ket" (Mary Lou) Paulsen of Munising; sisters - Camie Paulsen of Marquette and Cheryl (Don) Livermore of Shingleton; and nieces and nephews - Charlie, Chad, Christy, Lori and Shawna. Char was preceded in death by her parents, infant brother Bruce Paulsen, and nephew Tommy Bugg.
Visitation will be held at the Bowerman Funeral Home on Monday evening from 5:00 until 9:00. A parish vigil service and time of sharing memories and stories will be held at 7:00 p.m. Father Chris Gardiner will celebrate a Mass of Christian Burial on Tuesday, January 28, 2014 at 10:00 a.m. at Sacred Heart Church in Munising. She will be escorted by sons Ed, Dennis, Michael, B.J. and grandsons Jordon Johns and Jordan Beauchaine. Interment will be at the Garfield Township Cemetery in Naubinway on Wednesday, May 28, 2014 at 12:00 noon.
Charlotte Ann (Paulsen) Nikunen, age 65, of Powell Lake Road, Wetmore, died unexpectedly at her home on Wednesday afternoon, January 22, 2014. She was born on March 8, 1948 in Naubinway, Michigan to the late Charles "Cedar" and Fern (King) Paulsen. The family moved to Munising when Char was a young girl and she graduated from Sacred Heart School and then Wm. G. Mather High School in 1966. She married Edward Johns, Sr. on June 29, 1968 at Sacred Heart. Char was a homemaker and raised their five children. She was a member of the Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians and she worked for the health clinic at the tribal center in Wetmore, and then for the Adult Learning Center. On May 17, 1993, Char married Rick Nikunen. She was managing the Knotty Pines Resort in Wetmore for two of her sons. When customers called to make reservations, they could always ask for "Grandma Char." She enjoyed taking care of the customers, baking in the kitchen for the guests, and morning coffee on the porch in the summertime. Char also enjoyed knitting, crocheting, cooking for family and friends, playing "Candy Crush," and her animals. She was a wonderful and loving woman who was a steady constant in the lives of her husband, children, grandchildren, and siblings.
She is survived by her husband of over twenty years - Rick Nikunen of Wetmore; five children - Edward (Cathy) Johns, Jr. of Marengo, Illinois, Dennis (Jennifer) Johns of Limestone, Michigan, Michael (Rebecca) Johns of Enterprise, Alabama, Karen (Chet) Ransom of Burlington, North Dakota, and Robert "B.J." (Blaine) Johns of Pleasant Lake, Michigan; grandchildren - Julia, Jordon, Meghan, Erik, Kyla, Abby, Dennis "D.J.", Brittany, Michael II, Matthew, Jordan, Molly, Daniel "Spud", Cody, Tanner, Nonni, Maddison, Robert II, and Brody; great-grandchildren - Wyatt and Natalie; brothers - Charles (Bernice) Paulsen of Wyoming and Cary "Ket" (Mary Lou) Paulsen of Munising; sisters - Camie Paulsen of Marquette and Cheryl (Don) Livermore of Shingleton; and nieces and nephews - Charlie, Chad, Christy, Lori and Shawna. Char was preceded in death by her parents, infant brother Bruce Paulsen, and nephew Tommy Bugg.
Visitation will be held at the Bowerman Funeral Home on Monday evening from 5:00 until 9:00. A parish vigil service and time of sharing memories and stories will be held at 7:00 p.m. Father Chris Gardiner will celebrate a Mass of Christian Burial on Tuesday, January 28, 2014 at 10:00 a.m. at Sacred Heart Church in Munising. She will be escorted by sons Ed, Dennis, Michael, B.J. and grandsons Jordon Johns and Jordan Beauchaine. Interment will be at the Garfield Township Cemetery in Naubinway on Wednesday, May 28, 2014 at 12:00 noon.
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