Joyce W. Penegor

Prior to that, Joyce lived at the Bluffs Apartments in Houghton for a year and a half.

Joyce was born on July 10, 1931, in Ontonagon to the late Lillian (Arkelin) and Ray Harnish. She graduated from Ontonagon High School in 1949. Her first jobs were caddying for her father on the golf course and working at the family grocery store, the “Market Basket” in Ontonagon. After high school, she worked at the Rogers Agency and as the secretary to the head of the paper mill in Ontonagon until she married.

Joyce married William (Bill) Penegor on September 24, 1952, and they celebrated their 59th anniversary before his passing in December of 2011.

They first resided at and helped operate the family farm on Greenland Road for 11 years and then moved to Ontonagon where they raised their four children. On the farm, Joyce cooked for the farmhands.

She enjoyed bowling, golfing, snowmobiling, cooking, watching the Packers, and was a member of the Toastmistresses club, the Greenland Study club, and the Methodist church. She also volunteered for the Ontonagon Cancer society. Joyce was a long-time member of the Wyandotte Women’s golf league in Twin Lakes.

One year (not that long ago) she won what the grandchildren referred to as the “Gram slam”, three different golf events. Joyce and Bill enjoyed spending their summers at their cottage in Twin Lakes on Lake Gerald and had many wonderful family gatherings. They also were “snowbirds” for over thirty years in Fort Pierce, Florida, where all the kids loved to come and visit.

Joyce was preceded in death by her husband, Bill; daughter, Gay Ann; her parents; and her sister, Janice Killmar.

She is survived by her children, Jerry (Terry Wuorinen) Penegor of Painesdale, Almor (Kathy) Penegor of Twin Lakes, Andrea (Guy) Longhini of Twin Lakes, and Marcia (Mike) Butvilas of Houghton; grandchildren, Jerry (Amanda) Penegor, Alicia (Kiel) Roeschke, Joe Penegor, Maren (Peter) Rouleau, Alison (Chris) Pasiuk, Bill (Matteson) Penegor, Valery Longhini, Kenton (Alyssa) Longhini, Brendan Longhini, Michael Vezzetti, Jillian Butvilas, and George Butvilas; great-grandchildren, Madden and Brady Penegor; Emma and Luke Roeschke; Kaelyn, Jordyn, and Gavin Rouleau; Luciann and Lily Pasiuk; Woodson and Remington Penegor; Rease and Shaya Pakkala; and Kenli Longhini; sister-in-law, Jeanette Huotari of Mass City; brother-in-law, John Killmar of Houghton/Fort Pierce; uncle, Roy Arkelin of Texas; and numerous nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends.

Joyce was a generous and loving mother and grandmother that will be missed very much.

The family thanks the employees of Portage Pointe for the loving care they gave to Joyce.

Funeral services for Joyce will be held on Dec. 5 at Memorial Chapel in Hancock.

Visitation will be from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. with a prayer service held at 1 p.m.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Painesdale United Methodist Church, 156 Iroquois St, Painesdale, MI 49955 or the charity of your choice. To view Joyce’s obituary or to send condolences to the family, please visit memorialchapel.net.

The Memorial Chapel & Plowe Funeral Homes are assisting the family with the arrangements.