Obituary: Elroy Antilla

As received from the  Erickson Crowley Peterson Funeral Home:

Elroy R. Antilla, 90, passed away peacefully on Wednesday, September 30,

2020 at the Green Tree of Hubbell Health and Rehabilitation Center, where he resided for the past three years.

Elroy was born on November 20, 1929 in Calumet, to his parents, the late Arvo and Sylvia (Roytio) Antilla.

He graduated from Calumet High School with the class of 1948. Elroy was a veteran having served in the U.S. Army during the Korean War.

On December 3, 1954, he married his wife, Patricia (Supanich) Antilla. They were married for 60 years. She preceded him in death on March 22, 2015.

Elroy worked as a copper miner for many years with the Calumet and Hecla Mining Company until they closed in 1968. He then went to work at Cleveland Cliffs in Negaunee. After that, he worked for the Rowe Moving Company in Calumet until he was hired in 1973 as a Deputy Sheriff for the Keweenaw County Sheriff Department. He was the first deputy to be certified in Keweenaw County after receiving police training at Northern Michigan University, When the current Sheriff, Bill Luokkanen departed his position in 1975, Elroy was appointed Sheriff with his wife, Pat, by his side as matron and Under-Sheriff. On Tuesdays and Thursdays you would find Sheriff Antilla manning his courthouse office, issuing new and renewed driver licenses of county residents. Also a traditional wintertime duty of his was feeding the Keweenaw County deer herd in the nearby courtyard. After 17 years of service to Keweenaw County, Elroy and Pat retired in 1992 and moved back to their family home in Mohawk.

Elroy loved his grandkids, and he especially loved to watch their sporting

events. He also enjoyed his travels to Las Vegas and Hawaii with his wife and his Florida trips with his daughter, Donna.

Besides his wife and parents, he was preceded in death by his brothers, Clayton, Clifford, Melvin and Dennis, sister Betty Olivares and Son-in-Law, George Rangus.

He is survived by his daughter, Donna Rangus of Laurium, sons Bill (Marilyn) Antilla of Honolulu Hawaii, Donald Antilla of Green Tree of Hubbell Health and Rehabilitation Center and two grandsons, Bob Rangus of Naples, FL and Brian Rangus of Marquette.

He is also survived by his three sisters, Nancy Rowe and Carol (Clayton) Miller of Calumet and Mary (Keith) Jenich of Traprock. Numerous nieces and nephews.

Due to Covid-19 restrictions, a private family service will be held. In lieu of expressions of sympathy, memorials may be given to Bethany Lutheran Church P.O. Box 315 Mohawk, MI 49950 or to the Calumet-Keweenaw Sportsmen’s Club, P. O. Box 283, Calumet, MI 49913 for their winter deer feeding program. (please note that the donation is for winter deer feeding)

The Erickson Crowley Peterson Funeral Home is assisting with the arrangements, and condolences may be left for the family online at www.ericksoncrowleypeterson.com