Serving Gogebic, Iron and Ontonagon Counties

Kristine Ilta Giovanoni

HURLEY, Wis. - Kristine Ilta Giovanoni, 74, of 300 Poplar St., in Hurley, went to be with the Lord early Saturday morning, April 2, 2022.

Kristine was born on Jan. 11, 1948, in Wakefield, Michigan, a daughter of Lyle Edward and Ilta Sulamit (Maki) Thompson. Kristine attended Wakefield High School and graduated in 1966, where she excelled in athletics. After high school, she married Ted Harju.

Kristine loved making others happy, was very generous and loved the Lord. She was an accomplished seamstress and enjoyed handcrafting lovely clothing and creating attractive hairdos. Kristine looked beautiful all of the time. She was a talented artist, mainly focusing on oil painting on canvas and large murals with acrylic paint. Mom was a legend in all that she did. Kristine truly lit up a room as well as decorated it and served up the tastiest meals. She did everything with all of her heart.

Kristine helped her husband and best friend, Peter, with bookkeeping for their businesses in excavating, demolition, trucking and other ventures.

Peter and Kristine were married on Oct. 30, 1977.

Kristine is survived by her husband, Peter Giovanoni; and three children, Gene (Melissa) Harju and Lisa (Donald) Richards, both of Hurley, and Anthony Giovanoni. Kristine had nine grandchildren and one great-granddaughter whom she loved with her entire heart, Faune Harju, Blaike Harju, Noah Harju, Vienna Harju, Eagan Richards and Jenna Richards, all of Hurley, Alexandra (Noah) Smith, and their daughter, AnnaBella, all of Afton, Minnesota, Paige (Warwick) Leroy, Luxemburg, Wisconsin, and Devon Farrell, Casper, Wyoming.

She is further survived by three brothers, William Thompson (Nancy Gale), Hurley, John Thompson, Duluth, Minnesota, and Robin Thompson; a sister, Linnea (Nelson) Peymbroeck, Holt, Michigan; her sister-in-law, Gail Thompson, Wakefield; and six nieces and nephews, Sharon, Jason, Bill Jr., Chad, Heather and Stacy.

Kristine was preceded in death by her parents.

The family would like to thank all who brought cheer, conversations, prayers and love into Peter and Kristine's home and Don and Lisa's home, and prayed for her comfort and held her hand during her last days. Mom was so very easy to love! We want to thank Regional Hospice for their loving care. It meant so much to all of us that she received such loving support from so many! God is good!

A celebration of Kristine's life will be held on Friday, April 8, at 3 p.m., preceded by visitation at 2 p.m., at the Range Community Bible Church, 610 U.S. 51 South, in Hurley.

Jerald Rocco, owner and manager of Lakeside Memorial Chapel Inc., in Wakefield, is assisting the family with their arrangements. To send online condolences please go to lakesidememorialchapel.com.