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CRYSTAL FALLS -- Wilma Ann Kallies, 81, passed away Nov. 1, 2026, with her family, peacefully in her sleep. Wilma loved her family and friends with all her heart and was a lifelong volunteer, musician, artist, reader, and community organizer.
She began life on the south side of Chicago. Wilma's parents, Martha and "Bucky," raised her and her three sisters to value education and independence at a time when it wasn't such a popular idea. Wilma gravitated toward the arts and began painting, playing the piano, and singing at an early age. In grade school she sang in Music Chorale, which took her all over Chicago and once landed her an appearance on television. She also sang in the choir and directed plays at Calvary Lutheran Church.
Wilma graduated Lindbloom High School in 1963 and then started working in downtown Chicago at the Research Library of Commonwealth Edison. A year later she met Harold Kallies, who was only weeks out of the Navy, at a dance hall. They dated a few years before they got married on Sept. 1, 1968. During their courtship, Wilma backpacked through Europe with a girlfriend when you could "see Europe for $5 a day!"
Wilma's and Harold's first child, Ericka, was born in 1970; and in 1971, Wilma, Harold, and her sister, Deborah, all graduated with associate degrees from Daley City College. Wilma and Harold moved from their one-bedroom apartment at Calvary Lutheran Church, where they were the church sextons, to Cedar Lake, Ind., in 1975 with their daughter and 2-year-old son, Brian. Wilma continued her volunteerism with Hope Lutheran Church, where she played piano, directed children's shows, and organized events, all while women could not vote or participate in church council matters. Her third child, Steven, was born in Indiana in 1977.
In addition to raising three children, Wilma began teaching piano and flexing her seamstress skills by making clothes for her family and for various plays and shows. She returned to the workforce in the early 1980s as a scheduler and marketing manager at Wahlberg's Panoramic Photography, one of the only places that could take panoramic photographs in the country at that time. After that, she ran the office for Technical Weighing Services, a company that maintained scales for multi-ton steel coils. She was heavily involved in the Indiana Federation of Business and Professional Women, became the president of the organization and Woman of the Year. Wilma started a scholarship program for high school seniors called Scholastic Opportunity Services, or S.O.S., which helped several students begin college. Amidst all of this, she earned her bachelor's degree in communications from Indiana University Northwest in 1997.
In 2003, Wilma and Harold moved to Crystal Falls, and began living their dream of owning and operating Crystal Waters Resort. Soon after, Wilma became involved at United Lutheran Church as the director of release time, a choir member, a Music Chorale member, a member and director of the bell choir, and she was a member of the church council and eventually president of the council. She also organized several fundraisers for scholarships to Fortune Lake Lutheran Camp.
Wilma was a board member of the Iron County Chamber of Commerce for few years and was chosen as a Crystal Falls Citizen of the Year. She was also heavily involved with the Crystal Theatre, where she wrangled national touring performers and local talent. As a board member and a president of the board, Wilma raised tens of thousands of dollars to preserve and restore the theatre for the next 100 years. Wilma was a voracious reader and always looked forward to book club.
Wherever Wilma went she became involved with her community, but none so much as Crystal Falls. She cherished the friendships that were made in the past 20-plus years and often talked about the importance of involvement and volunteering. Wilma's pride and joy were the memories her and her husband, Harold, created for families that were guests of their resort. Her legacy is friendship, involvement, and love.
Wilma is survived by her husband of 58 years, Harold E. Kallies; daughter Ericka Kallies; sons Brian (Tasia) Kallies and Steven (Mary Joy) Kallies; sisters Barbara Siegel, Martha Weeks, Deborah Divoky; grandchildren Harold and Ava Kallies; nieces and nephews, cousins and friends.
Wilma was preceded by her mother, Martha Zawacki; and her father, Wilbert "Bucky" Wolter.
Services will be held on Nov. 21 at United Lutheran Church at 506 Superior Ave, Crystal Falls, MI 49920. Visitation will be from 9 to 11 a.m., service at 11 a.m., with a luncheon to follow in the fellowship hall. Pastor D.J. Rasner will officiate.
Condolences to the family of Wilma Ann Kallies may be expressed online at www.nashfuneralhome.net.
The family has entrusted Nash Funeral Home and Cremation Services of Crystal Falls with the arrangements.