Helen Elizabeth (Lintula) McGee

Marquette / Chatham

Helen Elizabeth McGee, age 93, of Marquette and formerly of Chatham, died Saturday, July 29, 2017 at the Eastwood Nursing Center in Negaunee. She was born on May 12, 1924 in Chatham, Michigan as the 8th of ten children to John and Hilda (Jamback) Lintula.  Helen moved to Detroit to work as a Rosie Riveter in an airplane manufacturing plant.  A co-worker invited her to her home one day.  Unbeknownst to both Helen and the co-worker’s son, who was home on leave, she was trying to be a match maker.  Well it worked, on February 11, 1944 Helen married Douglas C. McGee and together they started their family.  She was a hardworking homemaker who enjoyed cooking and sewing her family’s clothes.  In 1972, the family moved to Chatham, and eventually built a home next to the farm where Helen grew up.  She was a member of the Chatham Apostolic Lutheran Church.   After Doug retired, they began wintering in Port Richie, Florida.  They were very active there in a support group for former P.O.W.s and their spouses.  After Doug preceded her in death in 2000, Helen continued to travel back and forth to Florida and then eventually moved full time to Marquette.  She enjoyed putting together jigsaw puzzles and playing Rummikub with her special friends Violet and Evie.

Helen is survived by her three children – Alicia Matthes of Sparta, MI, Duane and Sylvia McGee of Tustin, MI, and Pat and Jackie McGee of Trenary; grandchildren – John Matthes, Angela (John) Weaver, Heather (Bronnson) Davis, Jason (Hayley) McGee, Ryan McGee, Beau McGee, Justin McGee, Adam McGee, Scott (Amber) McGee, Brook McGee, and Casey McGee; forty-two great-grandchildren and 19 great-great-grandchildren; and numerous nieces and nephews.  She was preceded in death by her parents - John and Hilda; husband - Doug; brothers - Willie, Ed, and John; sisters - Heidi, Aileen, Lili, Marge, Sam, and Impi.

Visitation will be on Sunday, August 6, 2017 at the Bowerman Funeral Home in Munising from 5:00 until 8:00 p.m. and again on Monday August 7 at the Chatham Apostolic Lutheran Church from 10:00 until 11:00 a.m.  Roger Kangas will conduct Helen’s funeral service at 11:00 a.m. at the church.  Interment will be at the Pine Grove Cemetery.

Memorials in Helen's name may be made to the American Ex-Prisoners of War, 3201 East Pioneer Parkway #40, Arlington, TX 76010-5396