1925
Marian
2012
Marian H. Pokela
August 13, 1925 — June 2, 2012
Traunik
Marian Pokela of Traunik was born on August 13, 1925 in Trauik, MI to Emil and Hilja (Hogan) Ihamaki. She passed away peacefully in her sleep June 2, 2012 at Tendercare Health Center in Munising, where she's resided for the past four years. She is survived by her loving husband of sixty-nine years, Urho Pokela, and her children Martin (Phyllis) Pokela of Traunik, Deane (Ruth Ann) Pokela of Munising, Jill (Jack) Korhonen of Cooks Lake, and Tim Pokela of Harvey.
The eldest of seven children, Marian attended Alger County Schools, and left the area to work as household help in Chicago. On August 29, 1942, she and Urho were married in Munising and lived in Brantwood, Wisconsin for a short while before moving back to Marian's family farm in Traunik, where they actively farmed for forty-three years, several of them with her grandfather, John Hogan, and two uncles, and later in partnership with their son, Marty. Their home was well known as a place where everyone was welcome, and no one visited without leaving well fed. Many a niece, nephew, or neighborhood child looked forward to summers there making hay, milking cows, swims at the lake cottage, and gallons of home-made root beer.
The farm table was a favorite gathering place and Marian was well known for her cooking and baking skills. She was an active member of Sion Lutheran Church, quilted for Lutheran World Relief and for more than forty years, was a leader in its Joanna Circle. In 1973, the circle published a cookbook called North Country Kitchens which was republished by Avery Color Studios and is still in print. Many of her delicious recipes are included in that publication.
Marian enjoyed music, sewing, picking berries, her Finnish Language and culture, and unselfishly lived her life in the service of her Lord, family, and community. She enjoyed corresponding with beautifully written letters and had a special pen-pal, Kenny Vallier, who become a life-long friend when he, as an eleven year old, found her name and address attached to a helium filled balloon in Muskeegon, Michigan which had been launched from VBS in Chatham a few weeks earlier. Over the past thirty years they've exchanged many visits and Marian and Urho enjoyed attending his wedding and subsequent visits with his young family.
Survivors also include grandchildren, Mike Mineau of Escanaba, Bill Powers of Des Moines, IA, Brenda (Tim) Gilbert of Green Bay, WI, Leo (Diane) Grigsby of Hansen, ID, Rene' Pokela of Hanover Park, IL, Tara Pokela of Traunik, Erin (Andrew) Haulotte of Palatine, IL, Neil Pokela of Gladstone, Tammy (Jeff Hutting) Pokela of Rochester Hills, MI, Kristine (Doug) Bricco of Little Chute, WI, Paul Korhonen of Chatham, and Julie Gural of Centennial, CO; eleven great-grandchildren and three great-great-grandchildren; siblings Vivian Maki, Gladys (Edward) Keto, Arlene (Vic) Elavsky, Norma (Oswald) Salmi, Richard Ihamaki, and Anne (George) Balko . She also leaves behind many nieces and nephews, four sisters-in-law Agnes Pokela, Tuddy Pokela, Helen Maki, and Norma Heikkinen, and many many others who considered her their surrogate mom and grandmother. She was preceded in death by her parents and grandson Michael D. Pokela.
The family wishes to thank Pastor Kelto, Alger County Commission on Aging, Drs. Bjork and Fahrbach, Christine, Kris, and entire staff at Tendercare Health Center who most lovingly cared for Marian and become part of our family as a result.
Visitation will be on Thursday, June 7, 2012 at Sion Lutheran Church in Chatham from 11:00 a.m. until 1:00 p.m. Rev. Paul Kelto will conduct Marian's funeral beginning at 1:00 p.m. Interment will be at Pine Grove Cemetery. In lieu of flowers memorial may be made to the Sion Lutheran Memorial Fund.
Marian Pokela of Traunik was born on August 13, 1925 in Trauik, MI to Emil and Hilja (Hogan) Ihamaki. She passed away peacefully in her sleep June 2, 2012 at Tendercare Health Center in Munising, where she's resided for the past four years. She is survived by her loving husband of sixty-nine years, Urho Pokela, and her children Martin (Phyllis) Pokela of Traunik, Deane (Ruth Ann) Pokela of Munising, Jill (Jack) Korhonen of Cooks Lake, and Tim Pokela of Harvey.
The eldest of seven children, Marian attended Alger County Schools, and left the area to work as household help in Chicago. On August 29, 1942, she and Urho were married in Munising and lived in Brantwood, Wisconsin for a short while before moving back to Marian's family farm in Traunik, where they actively farmed for forty-three years, several of them with her grandfather, John Hogan, and two uncles, and later in partnership with their son, Marty. Their home was well known as a place where everyone was welcome, and no one visited without leaving well fed. Many a niece, nephew, or neighborhood child looked forward to summers there making hay, milking cows, swims at the lake cottage, and gallons of home-made root beer.
The farm table was a favorite gathering place and Marian was well known for her cooking and baking skills. She was an active member of Sion Lutheran Church, quilted for Lutheran World Relief and for more than forty years, was a leader in its Joanna Circle. In 1973, the circle published a cookbook called North Country Kitchens which was republished by Avery Color Studios and is still in print. Many of her delicious recipes are included in that publication.
Marian enjoyed music, sewing, picking berries, her Finnish Language and culture, and unselfishly lived her life in the service of her Lord, family, and community. She enjoyed corresponding with beautifully written letters and had a special pen-pal, Kenny Vallier, who become a life-long friend when he, as an eleven year old, found her name and address attached to a helium filled balloon in Muskeegon, Michigan which had been launched from VBS in Chatham a few weeks earlier. Over the past thirty years they've exchanged many visits and Marian and Urho enjoyed attending his wedding and subsequent visits with his young family.
Survivors also include grandchildren, Mike Mineau of Escanaba, Bill Powers of Des Moines, IA, Brenda (Tim) Gilbert of Green Bay, WI, Leo (Diane) Grigsby of Hansen, ID, Rene' Pokela of Hanover Park, IL, Tara Pokela of Traunik, Erin (Andrew) Haulotte of Palatine, IL, Neil Pokela of Gladstone, Tammy (Jeff Hutting) Pokela of Rochester Hills, MI, Kristine (Doug) Bricco of Little Chute, WI, Paul Korhonen of Chatham, and Julie Gural of Centennial, CO; eleven great-grandchildren and three great-great-grandchildren; siblings Vivian Maki, Gladys (Edward) Keto, Arlene (Vic) Elavsky, Norma (Oswald) Salmi, Richard Ihamaki, and Anne (George) Balko . She also leaves behind many nieces and nephews, four sisters-in-law Agnes Pokela, Tuddy Pokela, Helen Maki, and Norma Heikkinen, and many many others who considered her their surrogate mom and grandmother. She was preceded in death by her parents and grandson Michael D. Pokela.
The family wishes to thank Pastor Kelto, Alger County Commission on Aging, Drs. Bjork and Fahrbach, Christine, Kris, and entire staff at Tendercare Health Center who most lovingly cared for Marian and become part of our family as a result.
Visitation will be on Thursday, June 7, 2012 at Sion Lutheran Church in Chatham from 11:00 a.m. until 1:00 p.m. Rev. Paul Kelto will conduct Marian's funeral beginning at 1:00 p.m. Interment will be at Pine Grove Cemetery. In lieu of flowers memorial may be made to the Sion Lutheran Memorial Fund.
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