Lucille A. Kataja

Lucille A. Kataja, age 93, of Iron River, MI, passed away Saturday, September 19, 2015. Lucille was born October 6, 1921 in Iron Mountain, MI, the daughter of the late Gerna and Jennie (Johnson) Johnson. She attended the Bates and Iron River Schools, and graduated from the Iron River High School with the Class of 1939. Lucille married Eino J. Kataja on December 14, 1940 in Iron River and the couple were lifelong residents of Bates Township. They celebrated their 65th wedding anniversary in 2005. Eino preceded her in death in August 2006. Lucille was a member of the VFW Auxiliary and the Bates Snow Cats Snowmobile Club. She enjoyed camping, fishing, sewing, quilting, knitting, playing cards and was especially good at smear. Lucille also enjoyed bowling on Ladies Tuesday Night leagues at the Pladium Lanes for many years. She especially loved spending time with her family and grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her daughter, Jene Holmes; brothers, Ray and Ortie Johnson, half-brother, Charles Sundquist, and sisters, Muriel Miller and Laverne Chioles. Lucille is survived by her sons, Don (Carmen) Kataja of Bates Township, Ray (Donna) Kataja of Gaastra, and Ken (Debbie) Kataja of Pleasant Prairie, WI; daughter, Lori (James) Nordstrom of Beechwood, MI; son-in-law, Brian Holmes of Lansing, MI; ten grandchildren; nine great grandchildren; and five great, great grandchildren. Visitation will be held Saturday, September 26, 2015 from 10:00 to 10:45 a.m.at the Jacobs Funeral Home of Iron River. Memorial service will follow at 11:00 a.m. with Rev. Gregory Veneklase to officiate. Honorary pallbearers will be Scott, Jon, and Eric Kataja and Jonathan Scola, and Jim and Brandon Wheeler. In lieu of flowers please consider memorial donations to the Iron County Cancer Unit or the West Iron District Library. To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Lucille A. Kataja, please visit our flower store.