As received from the Erickson Crowley Peterson Funeral Home. If you have questions about, or potential corrections to the content, please contact the funeral home directly.
Gretchen R. Inoue (Nakkula), 74, a resident of Northville, Michigan, passed away on March 11, 2026. She was born on August 20, 1951, to the late Lydia and Paul Nakkula in Laurium, Michigan. She grew up in Copper City and graduated from Calumet High School with the Class of 1969. She attended Northern Michigan University and received her Licensed Practical Nursing Degree in 1971.
On February 26, 1972, she married the late Kimio Inoue in Hancock, Michigan. Gretchen and Kim had three children and lived the majority of their years together in Midland, Michigan. They also resided for a period of time in Japan and then settled in Novi, Michigan.
Gretchen later returned to school and received her Bachelor of Social Work degree from Saginaw Valley State University graduating Summa Cum Laude in August of 1991. She also proudly kept her nursing license updated throughout the majority of her lifetime.
Gretchen was a kind, generous woman devoted to her family. She enjoyed her time with family and especially loved her Grandkids. Her warmth, humor, and love enriched the lives of everyone who knew her. She loved spending time in Michigan’s Copper Country and traveling. She spent many summers at her cottage in Lac la Belle, a place that held a special significance to her family.
She was hard-working with a whole lot of sisu. Gretchen also expressed her care through her talents and interests. She enjoyed cooking and baking, delighting others with thoughtful meals, specialty dishes and sweet treats. She loved the quiet solace of knitting, cross-stitch, and quilting—creative pursuits that reflected her gift for turning time and effort into something beautiful. Through her hands and her heart, Gretchen created comfort, offered kindness, and left behind a legacy of love. Gretchen will be deeply missed and lovingly remembered.
She is survived by her three children and their families:
Her son, Kenji (Katey) Inoue of Naples, Florida & their sons: Zinn & Hiro Inoue;
Her daughter, Kiyo Inoue (Chris Advani) of Westlake Village, California & their children: Mika & Xander Advani;
And her son, Kiyoshi (Mari) Inoue of Princeton Junction, NJ & their sons: Kai & Koh Inoue.
Gretchen is also survived by 10 of her 13 siblings: Her sister, Sylvia Munch, and nine brothers: Danny (Nancy) Nakkula, Robert Nakkula, Harold (Diane) Nakkula, David (Rita) Nakkula, Nathan (Debbie) Nakkula, Jim (Sue) Nakkula, Roy (Sally) Nakkula, Douglas (Lucy) Nakkula, Paul (Diane) Nakkula; along with numerous beloved nieces and nephews.
A graveside service for Gretchen will be held on Friday August 7, 2026 at 1:00 PM in the Lake View Cemetery located in Calumet, Michigan.
A celebration of life will take place following the graveside service in the Siskiwit Reception Hall.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made in Gretchen’s honor to Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Western U.P. (www.upkids.com/bbbs) to help connect local children with caring mentors and brighter futures.
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