Edna E. Karkanen

Edna E. Karkanen, age 96 formerly of L'Anse, MI passed away on Friday, January 23, 2009 in Chicago, IL.

Edna was born October 3, 1912 in Reading, PA; daughter to the late Clarence and Annie (Moyers) High. She married Dewey John Karkanen on May 6, 1929. They lived in the Detroit area most of her life and in 1963, following Dewey's retirement, they spent their winters in Lake Worth, FL.

Next to her immediate as well as her large and extended family, Edna devoted herself to her love of golf. She was an excellent golfer and for well over 30 years she was a member of the Women's Metropolitan Golf Association (WMGA) in Detroit. Her name, face and tournament wins appeared frequently in the Detroit papers. She also served the illustrious 135-member organization as president for several years. When Edna and Dewey retired to Lake Worth, FL, they became members of the West Palm Beach Country Club where Edna continued to play her trophy-winning golf until late in life. One of her last score-cards was recorded when she was 91 and shot a 41 on the back 9 at the WPBCC. Edna was a lovely, gracious and much loved woman who always felt herself to be very blessed by her many, many friends and loving family members.

Surviving is her daughter Rev. Elizabeth (Rev. William) Arrott of Chicago. Also, sisters-in-law Helen (John) Winkel of Okemos, MI; Dorothy (Warren) High of Mechanicsburg, PA; Judy (Paul) High of Reading; PA; brother-in-law Uno (Dorothy) of Saginaw, MI.

Preceding her in death is her beloved husband, Dewey Karkanen - also preceded by Sisters Pauleen Doerrman, Catherine Pflugradt, Mary Louise High, Anna May High, and brothers Warren and Paul High. Also preceded by her beloved Karkanen family sisters-in-law Sophie (Joe) Akren, Eva (Carl) Murtomaki, Elsie (Ed) Moilanen, Vera (Bruce) Schlieman and brothers-in-law Eino (Gertrude) , Waino (Martha), and Robert (Dorothy)Karkanen.

Dewey Karkanen, Edna's husband, emigrated from Kittila, Finland in 1904 with his parents, Johann and Henrikka Karkanen. Johann worked in the copper mines in Hancock before moving his young family west of Baraga where he farmed and ultimately opened and operated the Karkanen Dairy farm which provided home delivery to the area from L'Anse and Baraga up to Houghton and Hancock. This was the region's first commercial dairy farm and provided home delivery by Johann assisted by the Karkanen children. All the Karkanen children were raised on this farm which still stands on M-38 and is owned by the Scott Artley family. A funeral service will be held on Tuesday, January 27th at 11:00 a.m. at the Jacobson Funeral Home funeral home. The family will receive friends one hour prior to the service. Her son-in-law, Rev. William Arrott will officiate. Burial will be in the spring in the L'Anse Evergreen Cemetery. The Jacobson Funeral Home in L'Anse is assisting the family.

In lieu of flowers, contributions to a "Memorial for Edna Karkanen" at the North Shore Center for Spiritual living, P.O. Box 1955, Evanston, IL, 60201 are invited. Friends may sign Edna's guest book or send condolences at www.jacobsonfuneralhome.com