Virginia Mae (Bonner) Hakkola

Eben Junction

Virginia Mae Hakkola, age 86, of Eben Junction, died following a one-week illness on Sunday, April 9, 2017 at the Valley Baptist Medical Center in Harlingen, Texas.   She was born on February 27, 1931 in Munising, Michigan to Archie and Hilia (Saari) Bonner.  Virginia graduated from Eben High School in 1949 and two days later, married Arvo Arthur Hakkola on May 28, 1949.  She was a homemaker and together they raised their four children. Virginia was a member of the Eben Independent Apostolic Lutheran Church.   Virginia also worked as a cook for the Chatham Senior Citizens, Eben School District, the Huron Mountain Club, Forest Inn, and Mr. B’s.  She then worked as a nurse’s aide for Superior Shores.  Virginia became a Life Skills Technician for Pathways and “retired” from there.  She was very active in the community as a 4-H club leader for thirty years with the Sewing Club.  She also served on the 4-H council for several years and worked with the Extension Club “The Domestic Doers.”  She was a hard worker and enjoyed baking and making wedding cakes.  She was an excellent seamstress and upholsterer, and she was famous for her pasties.  Virginia and Arvo were married over fifty-seven years when he preceded her in death on August 6, 2006.

Virginia is survived by her children – Terrence (Leslie) Hakkola of Minneapolis, Jack (Bonnie) Hakkola of Escanaba, Sandra Rezendes of Wallingford, CT, and Archie (Frances) Hakkola of Eben; grandchildren – Rachel (Matt), Elisha (Dan), Celeste (Paul), Leah, Jennifer (Grant), Catherine (Mohammad), Susan (Stephen); Seth (Krystal), Jacob, Arianne (Eric), Alexander (Ellie); Alicia (Robert), Ashley, Nicholas (Ashley); Michael (Vicki), Brian (Tracy), and Charles (Victoria); great-grandchildren – Jacob, Cole, Nicole, Johnathan, Jennifer, Katherine, Sophia, Joe, Zari, Elena, Grant, Sam, Geneva, Crosby, Morgan; Hailea Mae, Shelby, Annabelle, Camara, Greyson; Griffin, Michalyn, Jordan, Dylan, Ava, Eric, Jacob, Lydia Mae, Evan, Sylvia, Addison; special friend – Duane Mallery; numerous nieces and nephews, and many brothers and sisters in faith.  She was preceded in death by her brother Theodore Bonner, and sisters Marian Krahn and Helen Bittner.

Visitation will be on Wednesday, April 19, 2017 at the Independent Finnish Apostolic Lutheran Church in Negaunee (County Road 492) from 10:00 a.m. until 12:00 noon.  Charles Prusi will officiate Virginia’s funeral service at 12:00.  Interment will be at the Pine Grove Cemetery in Chatham, MI at 4:00 p.m.