KENNETH L. "KEN" JOLGREN's Obituary
KENNETH L. "KEN" JOLGREN, age 90, of L’Anse passed away Sunday, June 5, 2011 at Bayside Village, L’Anse following a lengthy illness. He was born in Pelkie, MI. on January 31, 1921 the son of the late Guy and Ida (Erickson) Jolgren. Ken attended elementary school in Pelkie. He moved to Chicago with his parents and then graduated from high school in Chicago. As soon as he was old enough, he helped out in the family bar, “Bit of Finland” in Chicago. Ken met and fell in love with the former Lois Prickett in Chicago and on May 17, 1947 they were married. Together they moved back to the U.P in 1955. He worked as a salesman for United Insurance Company and as a car salesman for Oscar Johnson in L’Anse. He finally joined the Pipefitter’s Union and retired in 1986. Ken was a member of United Lutheran Church, L’Anse, he was a past President and lifetime member of the Ottawa Sportsmen’s Club, and was also a former member of the L’Anse Lion’s Club. In his spare time he was an auctioneer, partnering with Ed Aho for many years around Baraga and Houghton Counties. He also auctioned for the Baraga County Fair and the Baraga County Memorial Hospital Christmas auction. In 1997 he was named the Senior Citizen of the Year at the Baraga County Fair. Ken loved to hunt and fish and was always working on some “project”, usually for one of his kids or grandkids. He loved people and no one was a stranger to him. “If you wanna make it, you gotta be tough!” was a phrase his children, grandchildren and great grandchildren have grown up hearing. And “tough” he was, right to the end!
Mr. Jolgren is survived by his daughters, Judy (Phil) Logan of Amery, WI., Vicki (John) Carr of L’Anse, MI., and Jan (Bob) Doyle of Oceanside, CA., sons Jerry LaFond of Arlington, TX., Ken (Debrah) Jolgren of Jamul, CA, and Scot (Priscilla) Jolgren of San Diego, CA., 12 grandchildren, and 17 great grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his wife Lois on May 16, 2006, one day before their 59th wedding anniversary, a granddaughter Heather, his brothers Alvin, Wesley, and Russell, and sisters Viola and Helen.
A memorial service for Mr. Jolgren was held at noon on Saturday, June 25, 2011 from the Reid Funeral Service and Chapel, L’Anse with Pastor Judy Mattson officiating. Interment took place in the Pelkie Cemetery. The family greeted friends on Saturday from 11 am until the time of the service. Baraga County area veterans, under the direction of the Baraga American Legion Post 444 conducted military honors at the funeral chapel on Saturday at 11:30. Following the services, the family invited friends to join them for fellowship and a luncheon in the Harrington Gathering Room, located at the funeral chapel.
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