Lois Virginia Bogda, 73, of L’Anse, Mich., formerly of Milwaukee, passed away peacefully surrounded by family and loved ones at her residence in Zeba, Mich., on Monday, June 2, following a courageous battle with cancer. She was born in L’Anse on March 8, 1941, the daughter of Harry Crebessa and Virginia Asher (Vanlinden).
Lois attended school in L’Anse and received her GED in Milwaukee. She studied at Milwaukee Area Technical College for hotel/motel management. She married Roger L. Bogda in Milwaukee on Oct. 18, 1969. They were married for 44 years. She worked at Briggs and Stratton as an assembler, and also had a career job at A.O. Smith Corporation as a production welder. She was a breast cancer survivor. She was the VFW Auxiliary Post 2304 president. She was also the president of the AMVETS Auxiliary Post 27 and AMVETS state officer in Milwaukee.
In 2000, Lois and her husband moved back to L’Anse and worked at the Baraga Home Helpers. She was a member of the Keweenaw Bay Indian Community and was an honored elder in 2006. She was also a member of the Zeba Methodist Church and the Ojibwa Senior Citizens, where she enjoyed many laughs. Lois was one of a kind and will always be remembered that way. She enjoyed various activities. Some of her favorites were Bingo, casino hopping, cooking, taking care of her flowers, four-wheeling, walks with her family, talking on the phone, dancing and listening to country music, and NASCAR racing, but most of all Lois enjoyed spending time with her family and friends. Lois was a loving, compassionate and kind person, who always put a smile on someone’s face. She had a smile that could light up a room; she was loved by all for her positive and uplifting love of life. Even though she suffered in pain for many years, she never showed it and always carried a smile and a joke to share with those she came in contact with.
She is survived by her loving husband, Roger L. Bogda, and her children Cheryl L. Bogda, of L’Anse, and Donald L. Bogda and friend Carmen, of Green Bay; grandchildren Leona (Scott) Cardin, of Waterford, Melissa (Sean) Kruse, of Woodridge, Ill., Cheyenne Crebassa and friend Brandon, of Colorado Springs, Colo., Samantha (Ronnie) Chagnon, of Colorado Springs, Colo., Angelica Bogda and friend Mike, of Baraga, Mich., Roger (Boo) Crebessa, of Woodridge, Roger Bogda and friend Katie, of Green Bay, Sierra Curtis, of L’Anse, Jerry Crebessa Jr., of Arizona, and Louis Curtis Jr., of L’Anse; great-grandchildren, Ella Cardin, Jordan Cardin, Avangelica Crebessa, Matilda Chagnon, Blake Messer, Aubree Messer; sisters, Cecilia Owens of Baraga, Mich., Aurelia Hull, of Grafton, and Agnes Huckstaedt, of Baraga, Mich.; many nieces, nephews and cousins.
She was proceeded in death by her parents; one son, Jerome “Yogi” Crebessa; three sisters and two brothers; grandparents, aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews and cousins.
Funeral services for Mrs. Bogda will be held at 11 a.m. Monday, June 9, 2014, at the Reid Funeral Service and Chapel, L’Anse, with the Rev. Steve Rhoades officiating. The family will greet friends at the funeral chapel on Sunday, June 8, 2014, from 6-8 p.m. and on Monday from 10 a.m. until the time of the service. Following the funeral service, the family invites friends to join them for fellowship and a luncheon at the Ojibwa Senior Center, Baraga. Interment will take place in the L’Anse Evergreen Cemetery.
Mrs. Bogda’s obituary may also be viewed and condolences sent to the family at www.rfsc.net.
The Reid Funeral Service and Chapel, L’Anse, has been entrusted with the funeral arrangements.