HENRY PELLIKKA, (93), of Calumet, Michigan, died (August 4th) in Houghton, Michigan, under the care Hospice. He was the son of Jacob and Eva Marie (Hynninen) Pellikka. He was born December 1, 1921, in Mohawk and moved to Fulton as an infant. After high school he worked at the CCC camps in Pori and Higgins Lake. In 1941 he moved to Detroit and worked at Buddwheel Excello. He joined the U.S. Navy in 1942, serving during World War II and was discharged in 1946. He attended Bucknell, Columbia and graduated with a Mechanical Engineering degree from Michigan Tech in 1948. He married Ellen (Kuivinen) in 1947. After working for Burroughs in Detroit, he moved to Midland in 1948 where he joined Dow Corning as a draftsman. Hank held several positions during his career, including the Hemlock Medical Plant Manager, and retired in 1978 as Manager of Maintenance and Construction Services. Henry was a “people person” and was respected by all levels of employees.
Henry and Ellen were married for 40 years and raised four children before her death in 1988. He later married Gertrude (Monville) who died in 1999. In addition to his parents, wives and twin sister Gertrude (1923), his daughter, Norma (Steve) Pellikka-Lewis (1984), daughter Maria (2009) and his sisters, Eva Dahlin (1992) and Gertrude DeMarios (1995), predeceased him.
Henry spent many years vacationing and, after retirement, living at Higgins Lake, his cottage in the Keweenaw Peninsula on the shore of Lake Superior, Copper City and Calumet. He and Ellen were members of Trinity Lutheran Church while living in Midland and he was currently a member of the Faith Lutheran Church in Calumet.
He enjoyed golfing, playing bridge, shooting billiards, “hitting the gym”, dancing and reciting Robert Service “Poems of the Far North” and others. He was a lifetime member of the Elks and a member of the American Legion and Eagles. He was very proud of his Finnish heritage.
Henry is survived by his daughters, Barbara (Karl) Walser of Calumet, Laura (Terry) Coveart of Higgins Lake and his grandchildren, Daniel (Tammy) Lippie, Sandra Lewis, Darin (Karen) Coveart, Jessica (Mark) Jungerheld, his great grandchild, Leah Jungerheld , several nieces and nephews and his best friend, Eleanor.
Per his wishes, Henry was cremated and will be buried next to Ellen in the Pine
Grove Cemetery in Eagle Harbor. Per his wishes, a small family memorial service will be conducted later this month. Those wishing an expression of sympathy may consider the Calumet Faith Lutheran Church 26016 Depot Street Calumet, MI 49913
The Erickson Crowley Peterson Funeral Home in Calumet is assisting the family with the arrangements. Online condolences can be left for the family at www.ericksoncrowleypeterson.com
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