Myrna Ward

Myrna was born on Nov. 11, 1932, in L’Anse to the late John and Alva (Nelson) Koski. She was a 1950 graduate of L’Anse High School with high honors. Following graduation, she moved to Minneapolis, where she worked for Northwest Airlines, giving flight to a lifetime love of travel, in the United States and around the world.

She returned to L’Anse in 1954 and married her high school sweetheart, Paul “Bud” Ward, after his honorable discharge from the U.S. Navy. They had known each other since kindergarten, growing up three houses apart on the same street. Even though Myrna had been told to avoid the four mischievous Ward Brothers, whose father was the longtime L’Anse High School principal, she and Paul became a rock-solid couple.

After Paul’s graduation from Michigan Technological University, the young family moved to Quinnesec when he began his career as a chemical engineer with the Kimberly Clark Paper Mill in Niagara, Wis. Paul died in March 2024. The following year, Myrna moved to Evergreen Assisted Living in Kingsford, and then to Pinecrest Medical Care Facility in Powers.

Paul and Myrna had two children, daughter Lori Ward, a minister of Word and Service with the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, who previously worked in communications for the performing arts in Nashville; and son Michael Ward, a physician with the University of Wisconsin-Madison whose specialty is physical medical and rehabilitation. Other survivors are grandchildren Molly, Adam, and Elijah; great-grandchildren Addy and Annsley; spouses Steven, Eric, and Meganii; caregiver Kaylee Lada; numerous and beloved nephews, nieces and cousins; the Betty and Lee Johnson Family; Sally Garthe; and the members of Calvary Lutheran Church.

In addition to her husband and parents, Myrna was preceded in death by her two elder sisters and their husbands, Wilma and George Oliver and Merle and Ode Olson. Along with Bud and Myrna, they were a merry band, teaching their children and grandchildren to laugh — a lot.

Myrna was an active church member throughout her life, including more than 65 years of faithful service with her beloved Calvary Lutheran Church in Quinnesec. After Lori moved to Virginia, Michael went off to college and the family dog died, Myrna jumped into a new venture. She braved auditions for the first time in her life and performed in productions of the Dickinson County Community Theatre. She was best known for her role as Aunt Eller in two separate stagings of “Oklahoma.” Her other credits included “Little Abner,” “Fiddler on the Roof,” “Mornings at Seven” and “Wind Between the Houses.” Prior to her death, she was in rehearsal for a play at Pinecrest.

During Paul’s years in Niagara, he and Myrna developed lifelong friendships with mill families, who had fun together, from card games to worldwide travels. For many years, Myrna coordinated group trips with these friends and others, including river cruises through most of Europe.

For over three decades, Paul and Myrna spent winter months on Pine Island, Fla., and enjoyed summer months at their cottage in Skanee, Mich., near L’Anse, where both of their families had settled after immigration (hers from Finland and Sweden, his from Detroit).

Visitation will be on Saturday, May 30, from 10 a.m. until noon at the Jacobs Funeral Home in Iron Mountain. A celebration of life will follow at noon at the funeral home, with Pastor Dave Johnson presiding. The family will host a luncheon after the service.

Friends may leave condolences and tributes to Myrna’s family online at www.jacobsfuneralhomes.com.

The family has chosen Jacobs Funeral Home and Cremation Services in Iron Mountain, to honor Myrna’s legacy of life.