Elderly couple died together and will be buried together
By Greg Peterson
U.P. Breaking News
Owner, News Director – 1-906-273-2433
*Editor’s Note: Please read the obits below – this couple was really something
(Fulton, MI) – Just shy of their 45th anniversary, an elderly Fulton couple that died together in the fire at their home and they will be buried together today, Wed., Dec. 21, 2016.
A wood-stove in the basement is reportedly said to be a possible cause of the intense blaze.
The Michigan State Police Fire Marshal is investigating the deaths of an elderly couple: 73-year-old Norman Paul Kilpela and 79-year-old Marianne Sophie Kilpela, both of Fulton, MI. The couple had an exciting life, according to their obits (see below).
Officials were sent to a car fire in the Lake Gerald Road area just before the blaze was reported in Fulton.
Seven Volunteer Fire Departments from Keweenaw and Houghton counties were involved in fighting the blaze for hours in extremely cold conditions: Allouez Township, Calumet Township, Ahmeek Village Fire and Rescue, Eagle Harbor Fire and Rescue, Copper Harbor, Quincy.
In fact in the obituary the family said:
“The family would like to express a special thank you to all the fire departments, police departments, Mercy EMS, Houghton and Keweenaw County Emergency Management Team, Kilpela neighbor Marty and the Salvation Army for everything they did.”
Around 2 p.m. firefighters reported they were sending manpower “through the door” and to be careful with lines pumping water into the structure.
But this is part of how it went down:
The first fire dispatch came at 10:25 a.m. – The dispatcher told firefighters:
Ahmeek fire station 80 “need you to respond to 379 Seneca – 379 Seneca – in Allouez Township. “Reports of heavy smoke coming from a residence”
The dispatcher told firefighter rushing to the scene that there is “heavy smoke coming from the window.”
Do “you got flames showing on the home,” asked on fire official en-route with another tanker.
“Yeah she going pretty good,” was the response
“We don’t know if there is anyone in there, we can’t make entry,” said a fire official “There are shells and everything going off”
“We’ve got more (manpower) coming this way,” a fire official radioed.
“They are unable to make entry at this time, its sounds like ammunition … Shells were going off,” said one dispatcher to Calumet Township firefighters responding to the blaze.
Fire officials radioed that there was water bubbling and pumping out of the ground at two places near the burning home.
“We have water bubbling out of the ground behind the house here,” said one fire official.
At the time, fire officials on the scene said it was possible that the hours of water pumped on the fire was coming up out of the ground – but it was a questions that fire and water department officials wanted answered.
Officials said at that point it was unclear if the water emerging from the ground was the result of “water being pumped in there (into the home)” for several hours. The water was reported in “two places where it is pumping out of the ground.”.
Obituary:
Marianne was born on April 1, 1937 and passed away on Friday, December 16, 2016. Marianne was a resident of Fulton, Michigan at the time of her passing. Funeral services will be held at the Erickson Crowley Peterson Funeral Home on Wednesday December 21 2016 at 2:00 pm with .
Norman was born on August 27, 1943 and passed away on Friday, December 16, 2016.
Norman was a resident of 1, 1937 and passed away on Friday, December 16, 2016. Marianne was a resident of Fulton, Michigan.
Services will be held today, Wed., December 21st 2016 from 12 Noon to 2 p.m. at the Erickson Crowley Peterson Funeral Home
Services will held today (Wed. Dec. 21, 2016) at 2 p.m.
Officiating will be Pastor Jay Weidner.
Services are being held at the the Erickson Crowley Peterson Funeral Home at 26090 Pine Street in Calumet MI
http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/name/marianne-kilpela-obituary?pid=1000000183153996
Marianne Sophie Kilpela
Obituary in her local paper
FULTON – Marianne Sophie Kilpela, 79, passed away unexpectedly in a housefire on Friday, December 16, 2016.
She was born on April 1, 1937, in Hamtramck, to William and Florence (Bardal) Trembley.
Marianne loved her Avon jewelry and nail polish. In her free time, she enjoyed going to the casino to try her luck. She was a very caring person that always gave hugs and loved to spend time with all of her grandkids. Marianne was also a fan of polka music and loved to listen and dance.
Marianne was involved with Little Brothers Friends of the Elderly and the Avon Organization.
In 1973 she married Norman Kilpela in Alabama.
She was preceded in death by her parents; sons, Dean and Steve; daughter, Julie; niece, Lori; and sister, Kathy.
Surviving are a son, Paul (Jennifer) Kilpela of Calumet; two grandchildren, Landon, and Aili; sister, Patricia Reini of Hancock; sister-in-law, Donna Ryan of Laurium; niece, raised as a daughter, Bev (Fred) Luoma of South Range, niece, raised as a sister, Carol (Rick) Freeman of Hancock; and numerous nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.
Funeral services will be held at the Erickson Crowley Peterson Funeral Home on Wednesday, December 21, 2016, at 2 p.m. with Pastor Jay Weidner to officiate. Friends may call at the Erickson Crowley Peterson Funeral Home in Calumet on Wednesday, December 21, 2016, from 12 p.m. to 2 p.m.
Online condolences for the family may be left at http://www.ericksoncrowleypeterson.com
The Erickson Crowley Peterson Funeral Home in Calumet is assisting the family with the arrangements.
Norman Paul Kilpela
Dec 19, 2016
FULTON – Norman Kilpela, 73, a resident of Fulton, passed away unexpectedly in a house fire on Friday, December 16, 2016.
He was born on August 27, 1943, in Fulton to Urho and Alice (Cardinal) Kilpela. Norman attended the local schools and at a young age he and his siblings went off to work on the family farm.
Norman worked as a diamond driller for the Longyear Company for several years. He often said, he was the quickest driller at the entire company.
Norman loved to work and repair cars. He had a heart of gold and loved to help other people out. He would give the shirt off his back to anyone that ever needed it. His house was open and his coffee pot was on 24/7.
He was also a teaser and a jokester. He could win a checkers game after you made the first move. He knew that board inside and out. He loved to spend time with his two grandkids. They were the love of his life.
In 1973 he married Marianne Trembley in Alabama.
He was a member of Little Brothers Friends of the Elderly.
Norman is preceded in death by his parents, Urho and Alice; daughter, Julie; three brothers Dave, John “Chousy” and Ardel “Mannie”; and sister, Betty.
He is survived by a son, Paul (Jennifer) Kilpela of Calumet; two grandchildren, Landon and Aili; a brother, Gordon (Kathy) Kilpela of Iron Mountain; sister, Maryann Beck; sister-in-law, Donna (Charlie) Ryan of Laurium; niece, raised as a daughter, Bev (Fred) Luoma of South Range, niece, raised as a sister, Carol (Rick) Freeman of Hancock; and numerous nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.
Funeral services will be held at the Erickson Crowley Peterson Funeral Home on Wednesday, December 21, 2016, at 2 p.m. with Pastor Jay Weidner to officiate. Friends may call at the Erickson Crowley Peterson Funeral Home in Calumet on Wednesday, December 21, 2016, from 12 p.m. to 2 p.m.
The family would like to express a special thank you to all the fire deparments, police departments, Mercy EMS, Houghton and Keweenaw County Emergency Management Team, Kilpela neighbor Marty and the Salvation Army for everything they did.
Online condolences for the family may be left at ericksoncrowleypeterson .com.
The Erickson Crowley Peterson Funeral Home in Calumet is assisting the family with the arrangements.
http://www.mininggazette.com/obituaries/2016/12/marianne-sophie-kilpela
http://www.mininggazette.com/obituaries/2016/12/norman-kilpela
http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/name/norman-kilpela-obituary?pid=1000000183153997
Upper Peninsula Breaking News by Greg Peterson 