Ellen Mae Bannister

Ellen Mae Bannister, a long-time Perkins resident, died Wednesday, Oct. 11, at Bethel Home in Oshkosh, Wis. She was 93.

Ellen was born Sept. 3, 1924, on the family farm in Ensign, Mich. Her parents were Helga (Albertsen) Stenlund and Peter Stenlund. As a teenager, Ellen played the mandolin and piano and sang at events with her sister, Catherine. Her love of music lasted a lifetime, and she delighted many with her organ playing.

Ellen was graduated in 1942 from Rapid River High School. That October, she married her high school sweetheart, Andy Gordon Bannister, in Gladstone. When Andy returned from Europe after World War II, the couple lived in Rapid River and for a short time in Armstrong Creek, Wis. They moved to Perkins in 1950, when Andy became manager of the Michigan Dairy cheese factory.

In addition to being a homemaker, Ellen was a 4-H leader and active member of Bethany Lutheran Church in Perkins. With the Bethany Lutheran Church Women, Ellen compiled a cookbook of the congregation’s family recipes celebrating Bethany’s 90th anniversary in 1985. As president of Bethany’s chapter of the Women of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, Ellen prepared the manuscript honoring the church’s centennial in 1995. She also worked as a secretary to the Perkins High School superintendent and as a teacher’s aide.

Ellen was a skilled seamstress and knitter, and loved working in her flower garden. Before macular degeneration took away her eyesight, she made quilts for her children and grandchildren. Her apple pies were famed among her grandchildren.

After Andy died in 1995, Ellen remained in the family home until 2011, when she moved to Lakeview Assisted Living in Gladstone, and Bella Vista in Oshkosh in 2014. She had been at Bethel since August.

Survivors include: a daughter, Barbara (Gary Gagnon) Bannister of Marquette; a son, Donald (Nancy) Bannister of Omro, Wis.; granddaughters Laura (Duffy) Kopsi of Watersmeet, Christina (Greg) Kleinheinz of Winneconne, Wis., Amber (Josh) Buschmann of DeForest, Wis., Bethany Bannister of Omro and stepgranddaughter, Kelle (Dave) Honzik of Franklin, Wis.; grandsons Larry (Lisa Arndt) Vestich of Watersmeet, Andy (Joanna) Vestich of Hancock, John (Roxanne) Bannister of Neenah, and stepgrandson Mark (Leann) Gagnon of Ishpeming; great-granddaughters Nicole (Ben) Biesterveld of Jacksonville, Fla., Abigail Buschmann of DeForest, Lindsay and Megan Kleinheinz of Winneconne, and stepgreat-granddaughters, Ashley Gagnon of Negaunee, and Bailey Kirch of Ishpeming; great-grandsons Nathan (Angelina Schultz) Vestich of Watersmeet, Alex Kopsi of Watersmeet, Andy Kopsi of Watersmeet, Hunter Houle of Hancock, Ryan and Tyler Buschmann of DeForest, Owen Bannister of Neenah and stepgreat-grandsons Brett Kirch of Ishpeming, Maxwell Honzik of Franklin, Zachary Honzik of Franklin; eight great-great-grandchildren; a sister, Linda Erickson of Northville; and many nieces and nephews.

In addition to her husband, Ellen was preceded in death by an infant son, Bruce; a sister, Catherine Siitar; and brothers Sammy, John, Theodore and Jerry Stenlund.

Visitation for Ellen will be from 1 to 3 p.m. Monday at Bethany Lutheran Church in Perkins, followed by services at 3 p.m. with Rev. Diane Srutowski officiating. A lunch will follow. Burial will be in Rapid River Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Bethany Lutheran.

The Bannister family is being assisted by the Skradski Funeral Home in Gladstone.