Doris Delores Kivekas
GLADSTONE — Doris Delores Kivekas born April 8, 1931, passed away Nov. 28, 2019, at the age of 88. Delores was born in Raco, Mich., to the late Hilda Kleis. At one month old she came to live in Rock and was raised by her grandparents Mary and Isaac Hill whom were from Finland. Doris learned fluent Finnish from her grandparents and can also write it.
She graduated from Rock High School in 1949, where she was in choir, basketball and in many other activities. Throughout the years, Delores had worked waitressing, housekeeping, working for the St Nicholas farmers, the Oja rest home and the Gladstone bean factory.
In 1951 she married the late Marvin Kivekas. She and Marvin had three children, Dianne, Dwayne and Julie. She became the consummate homemaker. Delores was an excellent cook and baker, a neat and tidy housekeeper, a wonderful wife and mother. She and Marvin enjoyed a great “50s” marriage. They worked together to provide for and to see their little family flourish. Life was good. They all enjoyed the great outdoors, fishing, snowmobiling, attending school events (especially basketball games), bowling, going to drive-in theaters, playing cards and weekends at their cabin on the Escanaba River. Their lives centered around family and friends.
Delores loved people. Being an early riser, she would sometimes be up at 4/5 a.m. getting her laundry and household chores done. She loved to bake and looked forward to having friends over for her famous apple pie, Finnish biscuit, fudge and many assorted goodies. Delores had the gift of hospitality and social grace. To have Delores as a friend was a true blessing. Her genuine personality made her an exceptionally sweet lady.
Delores was a lifelong member of the Faith Lutheran Church in Rock. Even after her move to Gladstone, she and her good friend Fanny Mikkala would take turns driving to Rock for services. Not until she could no longer drive did she stop attending. She was always available to work, cook, bake, clean or to help in any way she could at the church. She truly loved God and He richly blessed her with a heart of gold.
At age 69, she moved to Fairview apartments in Gladstone where once again she made many new friends. She loved to solve seek-a-word puzzles, play games and cards and build jigsaw puzzles. In fact, some of her puzzles are in frames in the halls at Fairview Manor. The coffee pot was always on and many of her friends visited her there.
About four years ago she moved to the Bishop Noa Home in Escanaba where she continued with her love of people and social activities. Here one of her new passions became playing bingo at least four times a week. She particularly enjoyed sharing her winnings with her grandson Nathan.
The staff at Bishop Noa grew to love and appreciate Delores and will miss her dearly. She was happy, active, content and blessed to be able to get around and use her mind until she passed. She always complimented the great care she received at Bishop Noa and loved it there.
Delores loved her family and had always taken an interest in each of them. We will all miss her for so many reasons. She was a wonderful mother, grandmother, aunt and friend to many and loved by all. Her hospitality, friendship and awesome goodies cannot be equaled by many. And so, Delores lived a full and blessed life and was an incredible woman who was loved by all.
Delores is survived by her daughters, Dianne (Dennis) Hettinger;Julie (Loren) Whipple; daughter-in-law, Traci Kivekas; grandchildren, Michelle (Chris) Lennon. Kristen (Tom) Owens, Brooke Ditmar (friend Mike VanHill), and Nathan Whipple; great-grandchildren, Madison and Alex Lennon, Sara and Oliva Owens, Gavin and Ethan Ditmar; sister, Lois Carr; and many beloved nieces and nephews.
Delores was preceded in death by son, Dwayne Kivekas; grandson, Ian Kivekas; sister, Florilla Oja; sister, June DeLongchamp; mother, Hilda Kleis; father. Fred Luepnitz; beloved grandparents, Issac and Mary Hill.
A celebration of Delores’ life will be held on Saturday, Dec. 7, with visitation from 1 to 3 p.m. at the Skradski Funeral Home in Gladstone. A memorial service will follow visiting hours at 3 p.m. at the Skradski Funeral home in Gladstone with Pastor Al Schubert officiating. The Skradski Family Funeral Homes of Delta County are assisting with arrangements. Messages to the family may be offered privately or online at www.skradskifuneralhomes.com