Wallace R. Masters

Wallace R. Masters died on Saturday, November 26th, 2016, in Butte Montana.  He was 92.  Wally was born December 17th, 1923, in Munising, Michigan where he lived most of his life.   The last year was spent with his daughter Joyce and son-in-law, Terry, who lovingly took both Wally and his wife Loyola into their Montana home.

Wally married Loyola Saam on April 24, 1948, in Rochester, Minnesota.  They were members of Sacred Heart Parish for 62 years.  He worked at the Kimberly –Clark Paper Mill for 43 years assisting the engineering crew, oiling, operating the steam engines and unloading coal freighters with a crane.

Wally enjoyed the Upper Peninsula.  He loved Powell Lake which was named by his father.  For decades the family spent summers at the log cabin his father had built on Powell Lake when Wally was two years old. He loved walking the woods and later snowmobiling on ungroomed trails.  Wally proudly served in the Civilian Conservation Corps (Camp Cusino) as a teen and enjoyed talking about his experiences there with friends and family. Nerve deafness prevented him serving his country during WW II, something he really wanted to do.

As a result of Wally’s deafness, he had the habit of asking what the priest had to say during the homily at Sunday Mass.  He kept his daughters on their toes after Mass, but was always in good humor when they couldn’t come up with a good response.

Wally is survived by Loyola, his wife of 68 years and three daughters.  They include Mrs. Dianne (Patrick)Toohey of Clarkston, Michigan;  Mrs. Yvonne (Rick)Nelson of Hastings, Minnesota; and Mrs. Joyce (Terry) Hettick, of Butte, Montana; twelve grandchildren, Tim Toohey, Michael  (Angela) Toohey, Ryan  (Lindsey)Toohey, Mary (Dan)AuBuchon, Annie Toohey, Monica Toohey, Kim (Gerald) Swanson, Nancy (Adam) Evans, Eric (Stephanie) Nelson,  Sheena (Matt) Cichosz, Kathryn Hettick and Joshua (Miranda) Hettick and 9 great grandchildren.

Preceding him in death were his father, Wallace Henry Masters and his mother, Agnes Isabel Masters.

A Mass celebration of Christian burial will be on Friday, December 2nd, at 11 A.M at Saint Ann’s Catholic Church in Butte, Montana with Father Thomas Haffey officiating.  A Rosary service will precede the Mass.  Interment will be in Maple Grove Cemetery in Munising, Michigan.