Levi M. Jylha
NEGAUNEE - Levi Michael Jylha, age 78, of 247 County Road 480, Negaunee Township, died at 6 a.m. on Wednesday, Aug. 5, 2009, at the D.J. Jacobetti Home for Veterans where he had been a patient for 10 days.
Levi was born Sept. 29, 1930, in Ishpeming to Matt and Helmi (Ranta) Jylha and attended the National Mine School until age 16.
He was a graduate of Negaunee High School, Class of 1949 and was a member of the Class B State Runner-Up basketball team. He was a U.S. Air Force veteran of the Korean War, having served from 1951-54. Following his service to his country, he worked for CCI at the Mather B Mine, Mattson Dairy, Bancroft Dairy and the Negaunee Public Schools as a custodian and bus driver, retiring in 1990.
Levi was a member of Immanuel Lutheran Church, Negaunee where he attended regularly with his grandchildren. He enjoyed traveling, billiards, cutting wood, riding his four wheeler, telling jokes and hugging waitresses. He hiked Marquette Mountain almost daily until he became ill. He and his wife Alice were beautiful dancers, something which they enjoyed all of their life together. Levi was a dedicated caregiver to all in his family when needed.
Surviving are two sons, David (Janet) Jylha and Mark Jylha, both of Negaunee; three daughters, Elizabeth Anne (Sam) Huot, Rapid City, S.D., Karrie (Rick) Cummings, Marble Falls, Texas, Michelle (Daryl) Rice, Midway Park, N.C.; grandchildren Crystal (Gavin) Williams, Christopher (Lisa) Huot, Michael (Kirsten) Huot, Brian (Kelli) Huot, Kirstin Huot, Jeremy Huot, Mindy Jylha, Brenda (Daniel) Morales, Feline (Devin) Ray, Elise, Lily and Mark Jylha, Ricky, Cori and Jacob Cummings, Joshua and Jonathan Rice; great-grandchildren Tre and Ben, Samantha, Andrew, Aidan, Kalli, Ezra and Eli Huot, Arianna and Daniella Morales; daughter-in-law, Judy Jylha, Negaunee, whom he loved like a daughter; a sister, Linnea Werner of Gwinn; several nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents, a brother, Leonard Jylha in 1934; and his wife, Alice (Fitzpatrick) on Feb. 27, 2003.
Funeral services will be held at 2:30 p.m. on Saturday at Immanuel Lutheran Church, Negaunee, with Rev. Steven Solberg officiating. Burial will be in the Negaunee Cemetery. Mr. Jylha's grandsons will serve as pallbearers. Relatives and friends may call at the Koskey Funeral Home from noon until 2 p.m. on Saturday.
Levi enjoyed the last year of his life, living with his son, Dave. It was a blessing to him to be able to live on the farm in Negaunee and be cared for by Dave and his wife, Jan. He loved his time with them.
The family would like to thank the many dear and old friends who visited him while he was ill, and cared for him at the D.J. Jacobetti Home for Veterans.
Thank you also to all of his friends at the VFW in Ishpeming who welcomed him so warmly each time he visited, and the waitresses at the Grove Restaurant who always brought a smile to his face and a twinkle to his eye. He also loved his job and had fond memories of the people he worked with at Lakeview School in Negaunee. Most recently he was blessed to be able to see old friends at his 60th high school class reunion at the Country Kitchen. He had a wonderful time and it was the highlight of his summer.
Our Dad always had a joke to tell and would often say, "Tell everyone I love them very much."
Condolences may be expressed online at www.koskeyfuneralhome.com.
