Anna "Peggy" Margaret Halonen

Anna Margaret “Peggy” Halonen, age 90, prayed with the hospice priest on January 29, 2024, to “go home tomorrow.” Her prayer was answered at 8:30 a.m. on Tuesday, January 30, 2024. She passed ever so peacefully with her son by her side. Peggy was born on November 2, 1933, in Hessel, Michigan, to Herman and Josephine (Tassier) Ehle. Peggy grew up in Hessel and graduated from Cedarville High School in 1951. She met the love of her life, Martin Halonen, one Christmas evening while visiting her brother Glenn Ehle at bootcamp in Breckenridge, Kentucky. While driving to church with her mom, dad and and brother Glenn, Glenn spotted a “Yooper” buddy walking and said, “stop and pick him up, he’s the guy from Rudyard.” They were married on April 9, 1955, at St. James Lutheran in Rudyard, Michigan, and they enjoyed 54 years of marriage. Peggy attended Henry Ford School of Nursing, graduating in 1955 as an RN. She worked at St. Ignace Hospital, where her favorite job was an OBGYN nurse delivering babies. After nursing in St. Ignace, Michigan, she was the Rudyard High School nurse for many years. She retired when Kincheloe Air Force base closed, and Martin transferred to continue in Battle Creek, Michigan, for the Department of the Air Force. She then worked part time at a Kidney Dialysis Facility until Martin retired in 1990 and they moved back to Pt. Brulee in Hessel. Peggy summered at Pt. Brulee, where she worked part time at the Les Cheneaux Maritime and Historical Museums, while also volunteering at Bethel Lutheran Church. There she perfected her pastie crust recipe and helped make hundreds, maybe thousands of them, and quilted, all while spreading cheer and hope as only she could do. Peggy wintered at Pointe Overlook, Florida, and worked part time with Martin with a neighborhood watch team and enjoyed time there with friends and niece Sharon (Halonen) Pelissier and husband Ray (Marquette), who also own a condo at Pointe Overlook. Peggy so much enjoyed spending time with family and friends and Grand dogs at Brulee, taking boat rides, cooking out, making “Finn cheese” and pasties, and having campfires. She was the best at tending fires, and always made sure the fire kept going. She also enjoyed fishing (even cleaning them to be sure they were done right), snowmobiling, reading, knitting, crocheting, and quilting, although not in that particular order. Peggy spent her most recent years at The Oaks of Belmont, close to family, where she was visited often and was very well taken care of. She enjoyed joining residents at bingo, craft hour, and sing-alongs. The family enjoyed spending time with her there at happy hours on Fridays and monthly family brunches. Peggy was beloved by the staff as their “favorite” resident. She visited and enjoyed time with the “grands” and “great grands” the two days before saying goodbye. She enjoyed a “beautiful evening” the night before her passing, talking, and remembering many times at Brulee, including fishing which seemed to make her hungry. Soon after, grandson Kevin brought her pan-fried walleye that she also said was “beautiful fish.” Peggy is survived by her son, Greg (Pamela) Halonen (her “little boy” as she ALWAYS so affectionately called and introduced him) of Cedar Springs, Michigan; three grandchildren, Emily (Jimmie) Van Ess of Jenison, Michigan, Dana (Ryan) Roxbury of Grand Rapids, Michigan, and Kevin (Martha) Halonen of Grand Rapids; seven great-grandchildren, Bralynn and Elliana Van Ess, Avery and Peyton Roxbury, and Joseph, Nolan, and Harper Halonen; and she is also survived by many Ehle, Tassier, and Halonen family members that will all miss her very much. Peggy was preceded in death by her parents, Herman, and Josephine Ehle; husband, Martin; and brother, Glenn Ehle. Per Peggy’s final wishes, she will be cremated, and a Memorial Service will be held on May 26th, at 3:00PM at the Bethel Lutheran Church followed by a luncheon. Peggy’s final resting place will be at Cedar Edgewood Cemetery in Cedarville, Michigan. In lieu of flowers, Memorial Contributions in her memory may be made to Bethel Lutheran Church, 217 M-129, Cedarville, MI 49719; Les Cheneaux Historical Association, P.O. Box 301 Cedarville MI 49719; or St. James Lutheran Church, 11118 W 3rd St, Rudyard, MI 49780.

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Anna "Peggy" Margaret Halonen

November 2, 1933 - January 30, 2024