Mrs. Elsa M. Pesch's Obituary
On July 16, 2015, the city of Muskegon lost an angel, while heaven gained another. She was born on October 9, 1937 to Arne Mattias Koski and his bride, Lucy Miriam Kauranen in Newberry Mi. She attended Angell School as a child and graduated from Muskegon High School in 1955. In 1961, she married Ronald Eugene Pesch, and they were blessed with five children. A wife, homemaker and mother, in later years she returned to work as nutrition aid for Michigan State University through their cooperative extension office in Muskegon. There, she helped young families succeed. A longtime member of Immanuel Lutheran Church, and in later years, Our Savior's Lutheran, Elsa also served as a volunteer with Girl Scout and Boy Scout troops in Muskegon. Many will remember her for her quiet kindness, smile and behind-the-scenes assistance, her skill with a needle and thread and the constant stream of homemade toys, quilts and treats that flowed from the Pesch home on Washington Ave in Muskegon. She is survived by her husband of 54 years, Ron, a brother, A.J. and his wife, Peggy Koski; sisters, Bette Westgate and her husband Jim; Abi Vandervest; Maija Hayes and her husband Jon; sister-in-law, Sylvia Koski; and her children, grandchildren, nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by both of her parents, and her brother, Karl. A reception honoring Elsa will be held Wednesday, July 22, 2015 at 3:00 p.m. at Sytsema Funeral Home - The Lee Chapel, 6291 Harvey St, Norton Shores, MI 49444. In Lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Big Red Band fund at the Community Foundation of Muskegon County, or to your favorite charity . She would have liked that.
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