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South Range, MI – Evelyn M. “Evy” Petrelius, 80, a resident of South Range, passed away peacefully Saturday evening, February 3, 2018, at the Omega House in Houghton surrounded by her family.
Funeral services for Evelyn will be held at 11 am Wednesday, February 7, 2018 at the Range Apostolic Lutheran Church with Reverend Ernest Bylkas III to officiate. Friends may call from 4 to 7 pm on Tuesday, February 6, 2018 at the Range Apostolic Lutheran Church and an hour prior to services Wednesday. Spring burial will be in the Mountain View Cemetery of South Range.
Evelyn was born on May 1, 1937 in Trimountain, MI, the daughter of the late William and Eva (Hatula) Pesonen. She was raised by numerous aunts and uncles until staying with her grandparents, Henry and Maria Hatula in Painesdale. She attended the Adams Township schools and later finished her education at Jeffers High School in 1983.
She wed her husband Robert Petrelius, of Tapiola, on January 9, 1954 in Hancock, MI. After a honeymoon at the Scott Hotel in Hancock, they briefly traveled to Ohio and Detroit before returning to live in Tapiola, followed by a “two year-too long” stay in Detroit and finally returning to the Copper Country to settle in their home in South Range where they raised their family.
Evelyn was a faithful member of the Range Apostolic Lutheran Church. She enjoyed crocheting afghans and knitting dishcloths for her family members and friends. She was a proud and loving grandmother to 6 grandchildren and 14 great-grandchildren and was affectionately known as “Gramma Evy” by them and many others.
Evelyn was preceded in death by her parents, grandparents and great-grandson Jonah Edward Gardner.
She is survived by her husband of 64 years, Robert; children, Christine (Kevin) Koski of Marquette, MI and Ronald (Sandra) Petrelius of South Range, MI; grandchildren Christa (Glen) Gardner, Carol Petrelius, Amanda (Adam) Kicker, Melissa (Michael) Plegue, Shannon (Joseph) Heider, and Lori (Tanner) Petrelius; great-grandchildren Christina Gardner, Catie Gardner, Noelle Gardner, Marcus Gardner, Gracie Gardner, Joy Gardner, Faith Gardner, Glen (Celia) Gardner, Ava Heider, Eli Heider, Benjamin Plegue, Emma Heider and Clara Plegue; along with many nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.
The family would like to thank the staff of the Omega House and Noma Mangena for their compassionate care. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Range Apostolic Lutheran Church or the Omega House.
To view Evelyn’s obituary or to send condolences to the family please visit www.memorialchape.net.
The Memorial Chapel & Plowe Funeral Home of Hancock are assisting the family with the arrangements.
