Eva E. Silvonen

IRONWOOD, Mich. - Eva E. Silvonen, 94, of South Carey, Hurley, Wis., died peacefully Thursday evening, Dec. 1, 2016, at Aspirus Ironwood Hospital, with her loving family by her side.

The former Eva E. Impola was born Dec. 24, 1921, in Ironwood, daughter of the late John Arvid and Hilma (Kyronlahti) Impola. She attended grade school in Kimball, Wis., and graduated from Lincoln High School in Hurley in 1940. She was employed as housekeeper and nanny for the Bergquist family in Ironwood, worked in a boarding house in Butte, Montana, and was employed in factory work in Chicago and Little Rock, Ark. before returning to the family dairy farm in Kimball. Later in life, she received a teaching certificate in Sturtevant, Wis. and taught briefly in Saxon, Wis. She then was employed for many years in the bakery at Carlson's Supermarket in downtown Ironwood and also worked at Munsingwear before her retirement.

Eva's interests included art, painting, crafts, gardening, cooking, and playing the accordion and piano. She was also a skilled handcrafted rag rug maker.

She married William "Bud" Alexander in Feb. 1945.

She then married John Eric Silvonen on Dec. 23, 1968, in Hermantown, Minn. He preceded her in death on June 6, 1994.

Surviving are a son, Gene (Patti) Alexander, Kimball; daughter, Sandra (John) Stella, Oma, Wis .; four grandchildren, Allan (Mar) Alexander, Nekoosa, Wis., Becky Alexander, Minocqua, Wis., Maria (Brian) Lindberg, Green Bay, and Scott Novascone, Wakefield; step grandson, John (Tammy) Stella Jr., Woodruff, Wis .; 10 great-grandchildren; three great-great-grandchildren; two sisters, Elaine Lahti, Milwaukee, and Hilma Rantanen, Ankeny, Iowa; and numerous nieces and nephews.

Besides her parents and husband, Eva was predeceased by brothers, Oscar and Urho Impola and two brothers in infancy; and a sister, Fern Berg.

Funeral services will be held Wed., Dec. 7, at 11 a.m., preceded by visitation at 10 a.m., at Range Community Bible Church in Hurley, with Pastor Dale Harris officiating.

Luncheon will follow at the church.

Spring committal and interment will be in the Hurley Cemetery.

Pallbearers will be Allan Alexander, Scott Novascone, John Stella Sr., John Stella Jr., Spencer Kitzman and Brian Lindberg.

Arrangements have been entrusted to McKevitt-Patrick Funeral Home Inc., Ironwood. Condolences may be expressed online at mckevittpatrickfuneralhome.com.