Amelia
Eskeli, 79Plummer - Amelia Eskeli, 79, died Thursday, January 27, 2000 at Northwest Medical Center in Thief River Falls.
Funeral services were held at 2 p.m. on Saturday, January 29 at Immanuel Lutheran Church in Plummer with Rev. Clarence Johnson officiating. Grace Hammer was the organist and soloist. Casketbearers were Brent Hemly, Arlan Koskela, Steve Eskeli, Don Fox, Melvin Wappula and Eldon Vigstol. Military honors were accorded by the American Legion Post of Plummer with the American Legion Auxiliary serving as the honorary military. Burial was in the Finnish Cemetery near Plummer. The Petterson Funeral Home of Red Lake Falls was in charge of the arrangements.
Amelia Irene Wappula was born on March 30, 1920 in Middle River, the daughter of John and Helga (Hakala) Wappula. She grew up in Middle River where she attended school and was confirmed at the Finnish Lutheran Church. She attended teachers training and began teaching in rural schools in Marshall county. Later, after attending Moorhead State Teachers College, she taught at Halma and Raymond. In 1944 Amelia enlisted in the WAVES and was trained at Hunter College in New York to be a bombing instructor before transferring to Banana River Air Station in Florida. She was honorably discharged in 1946.
She returned to teaching and on June 5, 1948 was united in marriage to Leo Eskeli at Middle River. The couple farmed in Emardville township until Leo's death in 1994.
Amelia was an active member of Immanuel Lutheran Church in Plummer, serving as an assistant organist, Sunday school teacher and choir member for more than 50 years. She was a charter member of the Plummer American Legion Auxiliary and a past member of the Minnesota Education Association.
She moved into the senior housing facility at Plummer in April of 1996 and enjoyed music, gardening, rug weaving, crossword puzzles and visiting with her friends.
Amelia is survived by one daughter, Karen (Lowell) Johnson of New York Mills; one grandson; three sisters, Ruth (Emil) Daez of Long Beach, CA, Sadie Chambers of Oak Harbor, WA and Sally Olson of Bloomington; three brothers-in-law; three sisters-in-law; and many nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her parents; husband; infant daughter, Mary Ellen Eskeli; four brothers, John Wappula, Raymond Wappula, George Wappula and Willie Wappula; and one sister, Ellen Kuklinca. A00003B2000FB02