Eleanore “Ele” (Jokela) Weingartner, age 86, former Rock and Gwinn area resident passed away on Thursday, November 3, 2011 at the Mill Creek Assisted Living in Marquette with her family at her side.Ele was born July 2, 1925, in Escanaba, the daughter of Henry and Josie (Kuuva) Jokela. Ele was raised in Rock and graduated from Rock High School in 1943.
Ele worked in Detroit as a secretary at Continental Aviation and Engineering until her fiance, Robert “Bob” Weingartner, returned from the service. Ele married her childhood sweetheart on November 10, 1945. They lived and worked in Big Rapids while Bob was attending Ferris Institute. After moving back to Rock, Ele helped Bob set up an appliance store. Ele enjoyed outdoor activities, gardening, as well as bowling. Family activities were always important to Ele and she visited her sister, Grace, and her mother several times a week.
Ele was a member of the Rock American Legion Auxillary, the Rock P.T.A. and was a teacher at the Rock Bible School. She loved to help with local election ballot counting and volunteered at that in Rock and Little Lake.
Ele is survived by her two children, Dale (Sally) Weingartner of Gwinn and Carol (Bill) Morgan of Gwinn and Florida. Other survivors include two grandchildren, Richard Weingartner and Lani Yearicks; two great-grandsons: Robert Yearicks and Thomas Yearicks; her brother-in-law, James Weingartner of Ishpeming; and several nieces and nephews.
Ele was preceeded in death by her loving husband, Bob, of nearly 65 years on May 17, 2010, her sister, Grace (Jokela) Maki, and her parents, Henry and Josie (Kuuva) Jokela.
Everyone at Mill Creek loved Ele and said what a sweet person she was. Ele’s humor was right there until the end and she was always so appreciative of anything anyone did for her.
Eleanore’s family will receive friends on Tuesday, November 15 from 10:00 AM to 11:30 AM at the Faith Lutheran Church in Rock. Memorial services will follow at 11:30 AM at the church with Rev. Jonathan Schmidt officiating. A luncheon will be served immediately following services at the church. Eleanore will be laid to rest in the Rock Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions in Eleanore’s name may be directed to the Weingartner Family Scholarship at Bay de Noc Community College or to Faith Lutheran Church.
Anonymous
What sadness learning Eleanore had passed away. She and Bob were my neighbors in Rock for many years. Bob was my “ham radio mentor”, and Eleanore always had a “sweet treat” for us teen age hams! I knew of Eleanore much earlier than that. She was the “Dentist Appointment Lady”. I will always remember her perfect penmanship as she hand wrote the appointment list for the coming week. How exciting (and somewhat scary) to know a week in advance I would be sitting in Dr. Hollick’s dentist chair with its scary spinning pulleys controlling the inevitable DRILL!Our sincere condolences are extended to both Carol and Dale and your families. You grew up with wonderful parents and I’m glad to know both of you. I hope we can get together and share some memories of Bob and Ele soon.
Al & Dolly Salmi
Rapid River MI & Lake Worth FL
Carol, I will always remember your dear parents and will miss them always.
With deepest sympathy,
Wendy (Red Lobster)
Wendy F.
Marquette MI
To Eleanore’s family and friends: What a wonderful, sweet, kind woman she was!!….She will be missed by all. Rely on each other and your wonderful memories to help you now……….Rejoice that she is together with Bob again. With our deepest sympathies….
Ron & Becki (Roberts) Hess
Gladstone MI
My sincere condolences to Ele’s family and friends. Ele was and always will be a very positive influence in my life.
Wayne Maki
Sebastian FL