Gladys E. Pellman

Gladys Elizabeth “Liz” Pellman, 88, longtime Maple, WI resident, passed away peacefully on Friday, February 9, 2024, with her family by her side, at Divine Health and Rehab in Superior, WI, following a brief illness.

Gladys was born in Oulu, Wisconsin on September 9, 1935, the daughter of George and Lina (Niemi) Johnson. During WWII, the family moved to River Rouge, Michigan, and her parents worked at jobs supporting the war effort. After the war, they moved back to Oulu, where Gladys attended Washington and Lincoln grade schools and helped around the family farm. She also had been a member of Hope Lutheran Church in Oulu.  She graduated from South Shore High School in 1953.

After graduation, Liz worked as a bank secretary in Minneapolis. A year later she returned north and married Ernest R. “Ernie” Pellman on June 5, 1954. Together they had five children. She was a stay-at-home mom but also found time to work at Buster’s Cafe in Maple.

Liz loved music and she loved to sing. She taught her children songs in both English and Finnish. Liz and Ernie enjoyed many country music concerts with their friends at the old Duluth Armory.

Liz loved to canoe the Brule River and enjoyed time at the beach at Lake Superior.

Liz was proud of the old farmhouse they fixed up in Maple. She tended to her flower and vegetable gardens. She canned vegetables and also venison from hunting season. On cold days, you could find Liz baking something delicious from her many recipe books.

In her spare time, Liz especially loved to read. She also spent many relaxing hours listening to their favorite country and Finnish music albums. She also enjoyed going to garage sales with her friends.

Liz treasured the time spent with her family, especially the holiday gatherings. She even got her driver’s license to help babysit her grandchildren. Liz and Ernie had celebrated sixty-nine years of marriage before his recent passing.

She was a wonderful wife, mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother and will be dearly missed by her daughters Diane Pellman, Lake Worth, FL, and Linda Pellman, Superior, WI; sons Ernest T. “Ted” Pellman (Kathy Laakso), Superior, WI, and Robert “Bob” Pellman (Joan Keeler-Pellman), Lake Nebagamon, WI; grandchildren Travis (Alyssa) Anderson, Brody Pellman, Holly Pellman, Alex (Kelly) Paquette, Hanna Paquette, Stephanie (Chad) Trebilcock, and Jessie (Terry) Pearson; great-grandchildren Daxten, Lyydi, Frankie, Senia and Talia; son-in-law James “Jim” Waisanen, and several nieces and nephews.

She is preceded in death by her beloved husband Ernie; daughter Wendy Waisanen; grandson Taylor Anderson; son-in-law Dick Anderson; step great-grandson Dallas Pearson; sisters Ruth Maki and Lina “Eleanor” Pellman; her twin brother George R. Johnson, and her parents.

Visitation will be held at 10:00 AM on Saturday, March 2, 2024, at the Lenroot-Maetzold Funeral Home, 1209 E. 5th Street in Superior, and will continue until the Memorial Service at 12:00 PM with Pastor Victor St. George officiating.

Burial will be in Faith Lutheran Cemetery in Maple, WI, at a later date.

To leave a condolence or sign the guestbook, please visit www.lenroot-maetzold.com.