THELMA I. (WESTERVICK) PECHEK
Thelma I. (Westervick) Pechek passed away peacefully with family members at Solvay Hospice House in Duluth on Sunday morning, Nov.11, 2012
On Sunday morning, Nov. 11, 2012, Thelma I. (Westervick) Pechek passed away peacefully with family members at Solvay Hospice House in Duluth. Thelma was 90 and dearly loved by family and friends.
Thelma was born in Cloquet, Minn., on July 30, 1922 to Herman and Hilja (Isovita) Westervick, immigrants from Finland.
Thelma grew up speaking and writing Finnish and was proud of her Finnish heritage. At 16, Thelma graduated high school as valedictorian. To honor Thelma’s achievement, she was given a pin shaped like a honey bee because in class, she never got a “B”. In 1942, Thelma, with girlfriends, drove a car from Minnesota to California, having a good time, where she married her soul mate, John Pechek, who was stationed in Long Beach in the Army Air Corps during World War II. In the late 40’s they moved to Bovey where they raised four children. After John’s retirement, they continuously traveled in their motor home for fishing trips to Canada and visiting friends, and made long treks to Alaska and throughout the world visiting their children.
Thelma was a longtime member of the Presbyterian Church and will be remembered for her volunteer work in numerous organizations such as; Women’s club, Ladies Aide, and Campfire Girls to name a few.
Thelma was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, John in 2006; and a sister, Mayme Lumppio.
Survivors include her four children Phillip (Elise) Pechek of Duluth, Stuart (Marta McWhorter) Pechek of Fairbanks, Alaska, Margaret (Stuart) Mach of Kake, Alaska, and Louise (Kevin) Morgan of Plymouth, Minn.; grandchildren, Dorothy (Eric Erdmann) Mach and Tony Mach, Rebecca and Benjamin Pechek, and John and Samuel Morgan; a great granddaughter, Ava Erdmann; and numerous special nieces and nephews.
VISITATION: 5 to 7 p.m. Friday, Nov. 16, 2012 in the Peterson Funeral Chapel of Coleraine and will continue from 12 Noon until the 1 p.m. funeral service on Saturday, Nov. 17, 2012 in the First United Church of Coleraine and Bovey. Interment will be at the Lakeview Cemetery, Coleraine. To leave an online condolence, go to petersonfuneralchapelofcoleraine.com.
Tags: obituaries
Comments posted on this page do not reflect opinions of Forum Communications Company. Forum Communications Company does not endorse and is not responsible for any statement, opinion, advice given or made. All replies are subject to approval and must follow Forum Communications Company guidelines concerning statements of libel, personal attacks or defamation of character. Replies in the "Talk About It" section that criticize a person by name may not be posted, unless that person is openly involved in a public issue. Comments written in all capital letters or bold print will not be considered for inclusion in the forum.
RSS Feeds