GRAHEK, Angeline M.

Today's News-Herald, Lake Havasu City, Arizona Published Monday, January 28, 2008 Angeline M. (nee Pertz) Grahek, of Lake Havasu City and Ely, Soudan, Minn., passed away in Lake Havasu City Saturday, Jan. 12, 2008, after a very long and fulfilling life. She was born Jan. 14, 1918, in Ely, Minn., the middle daughter of Andrew Pertz and Frances (Glavan). She was an honor student and graduate of Ely Memorial High School in 1936 and Ely Junior College. In September 1939, she applied for three open positions: the Ely Recreation Department, a secretary in Washington D.C., and a secretary for the St. Louis County Welfare Board in Ely. Shortly after accepting the position with the welfare board she was assigned the position of field caseworker. Her area of responsibility consisted of Ely, Babbitt, Tower, Soudan and the Indian reservation. She made home visits to recipients of direct relief. With the outbreak of WWII, a position became available as secretary to the personnel supervisor, Peter Handberg, at the U.S. Steel office in Ely, which she accepted. In December 1942 she accepted the position of secretary to the Superintendent of Schools in Ely. She worked in this capacity for 33 years for superintendents Stanley Adkins, Donald Stubbens, W.J. Murphy, George A. Moe, M.W. VanPatten and Stanley Vetjasa until her retirement in 1975. Angie, as she was affectionately called by family, friends, and co-workers, was a wonderful homemaker, an avid reader, knitter, flower gardener and wild-berry picker. These activities were no longer available to her as she became legally blind several years prior to her death. She had traveled extensively in the U.S. and made four trips to Europe and to her parents' native home of Yugoslavia, now Slovenia. Angie is survived by her loving husband of 34 years, Rudolph M. Grahek; her very special step-children, son Michael (Beth) Grahek, of Mt. Iron, Minn.; daughter, Marjorie (Randall) Johnson of Tower, Minn.; grandchildren, Ashley Justin Morken, Adam Grahek, Courtney Johnson and Whitney Johnson. An important part of her life were her sister Mary Ahlquist's children, Melanie Ahlquist (Bob Quinn) of Bloomington, Minn., Todd (Diane) Ahlquist, of Chandler, Teri (Will) Haapala, of Detroit Lakes, Minn., and Darice Ahlquist of New Braunfels, Texas. She is also survived by many other nieces and nephews and grandnieces and grandnephews. She was preceded in death by her parents; her sisters, Frances Grassee and Mary Ahlquist; and brothers, Joseph Pertz and Charles Pertz. Mass of Christian Burial will be at St. Martin's Catholic Church in Tower at a later date. Interment will be at Fort Snelling National Cemetery in Minneapolis, also at a later date. Thoughts and condolences may be submitted to the family at www.lietz-frazefuneralhome.com. Arrangements were placed under the care of Lietz-Fraze Funeral Home and Crematory.