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As received from the O’Neill-Dennis Funeral Home:
Grace Charlene Juleff, age 89, of Atlantic Mine/Houghton passed away peacefully at home on Thursday, October 20, 2022 following a brief illness.
Grace was born on March 1, 1933 to William and Viola (Rautio) Lexson. She was the second youngest of ten children. She was raised on the family farm in Onnela. Attended the Redridge School through tenth grade and graduated from Houghton High School. After graduation she moved to the Detroit area and held various clerical jobs. She married Charles Juleff in 1957. They later divorced in 1965 and Grace returned to her roots in the Copper Country. Upon her return to the U.P, she attended the St. Joseph’s Hospital Nursing program and became a certified nursing assistant. She worked at St. Joseph’s Hospital, and later Houghton County Medical Care Facility. She retired from the Medical Care Facility after 30 years of compassionate patient care. She was an outspoken advocate for putting patient care and comfort above all else.
Throughout her life, Grace was passionate about two things…family, and Red Wings Hockey. She raised her three children with love and was always available to nieces, nephews and friends as a guiding force. In later life, she was a compassionate caregiver to her family members during times of illness.
Her passion for Red Wing’s Hockey was nothing short of epic. It was commonly known among family and friends that you did not visit or call Grace if the Red Wings were on television. For years, she kept records/stats of every game and player. She was their number one fan!
In addition to her parents, Grace was preceded in death by her siblings : Mildred (Ernest)Riipi, Elsie (John) Walstrom, Regina (Bill) Wilcox, Ruth (Joseph) Odal, Adeline (John) Folk, Elizabeth (Robert) Ovist, Lloyd (Lillian) Lexson, Raymond (Catherine) Lexson and David Lexson. Also preceding her in death was her son Michael Juleff.
She is survived by her son David (Penny) Juleff of Ft. Myers, FL; daughter Kimberly (Carl) Johnson of Hancock, MI; granddaughter Mikala Johnson; grandson Maxwell Juleff; great-granddaughter Luna Juleff; daughter-in-law Kathy Juleff; sister-in-law Maryann Lexson and numerous nieces, nephews and cousins. Her SISU spirit and guiding wisdom will be desperately missed by all who knew and loved her.
Funeral services will be held for Grace on Saturday, November 5th at 11:00 A.M. at the Zion Lutheran Church in Hancock, Michigan with pastor Jesse Aho and assistant pastor Scott Seppala officiating. The family will receive relatives and friends beginning at 10:00 prior to the funeral service. Interment will be in the Atlantic Mine Cemetery.
The O’Neill-Dennis Funeral Home in Hancock is assisting with the arrangements. To leave online condolences, please go to www.oneilldennisfh.com.
