Victor "Vic" Elavsky

Munising

Victor “Vic” Elavsky, age 87, of Munising, died Thursday, March 31, 2016 at UP Health Systems – Marquette.  He was born on February 18, 1929 in Munising, MI to the late Michael and Meri (Gotch) Elavsky.  Vic entered into the United States Army and served most of his time in Germany.  He was honorably discharged in December of 1952 and began working at the Munising Paper Mill in January of 1953.  Vic started as a trucker in the sulphite department.  In 1965, he posted into the specialties department, and then retired from Kimberly-Clark as a calender-rewinder operator in 1979 after twenty-five years of service.  He married Arlene C. Ihamaki on July 6, 1968 and together they raised their daughter Vicki.  Vic enjoyed photography, hunting, fishing trips to Canada, and spending time in the kitchen making his specialty chicken soup and molasses cookies.  In his later years, Vic was very interested in U.P. and Munising history, and the stories that went along with the Great Lakes and its shipwrecks.  He was a member of Eden Lutheran Church, and held various positions there including the treasurer for the organ fund.

Vic is survived by his wife – Arlene Elavsky of Munising; daughter and son-in-law – Vicki and Ed Sowa of Munising; brothers – Ed “Mike” Elavsky and Henry (Sionie) Elavsky; sisters – Ruth Elavsky and Pauline Elavsky; brothers and sisters-in-law – Sheila Elavsky, Vivian Maki, Gladys (Edward) Keto, Oswald Salmi, Richard Ihamaki, and Anne (George) Balko; and numerous nieces and nephews.  He was preceded in death by his parents – Michael and Meri; siblings – Jerome Elavsky, Mary (Arthur) Wirtanen, Anne (Bruce) Redfield, Elaine Elavsky, and two infant brothers; brothers and sisters-in-law – June Elavsky, Marian (Urho) Pokela, Carl Maki, and Norma Salmi.

Visitation will be on Monday, April 4, 2016 from 10:00 a.m. until 12:00 noon at Eden Lutheran Church in Munising.  Pastor Ann Gonyea will conduct Vic’s funeral service at 12:00 at the church.  Interment will be at the Maple Grove Cemetery in Munising on Friday, May 13, 2016 at 12:00 noon where the American Legion and Vietnam Veteran Honor Guard will conduct military honors.