Sharon Parkkila

Munising

Sharon Parkkila of Munising passed away peacefully on September 17, 2026, at Transitions Assisted Living in Gladstone with her granddaughter by her side. Born on June 28, 1946, in Ishpeming, Michigan, Sharon spent her early years in Little Lake and Rock, growing up as the eldest of 6 siblings raised by her wonderful parents Alfred and Neita Peterson. She graduated from Rock High School in 1964.

Sharon married her former husband in 1964 and they had four children. They settled in a home in Vanmeer and Sharon was a stay-at-home mom. The children grew up riding bikes, making forts, exploring the woods and fields surrounding the family home, visiting national parks, picking berries, playing board games, spending weekends at their grandparents in Rock and fighting like cats and dogs.

Sharon enjoyed the simple things in life and her interests varied and changed throughout the years. She gardened and canned vegetables, created beautiful rock gardens, knit and sewed. She was in attendance at all the band concerts, baseball games, dance recitals, wrestling and boxing, 4H and ceramics classes. She loved birdwatching and feeding all the wildlife surrounding her home. Sharon loved her children and instilled a strong work ethic, resilience, grit, and stubbornness in each of them.

When her youngest turned 13 Sharon began working outside the home. She worked for a few summers at the Picture Rocks Golf Club, joined the ladies golf league and her team took first place. She then began working at Madigan’s Hardware in Munising. She worked in a variety of roles but primarily as bookkeeper. She retired in 2021 after 30 years. She loved her Madigan’s family.

As her children grew, they blessed her with 7 grandchildren and the blessings continued with 5 great-grandchildren. Sharon loved being a grandma and her grandchildren all have special memories of time at Grandma’s house that included movies, bonfires and smores.

Sharon was a good neighbor and friend who always had room at her dining table and a fresh pot of coffee. She never gossiped and could keep a secret. She had strong opinions and traditional values. She loved corny jokes and was the first to laugh at herself.

Sharon is survived by her four children, Janice (Glen) Cote, Phillip Parkkila, Pamela (Brent) Bradley, and Penny Hultman. Her Grandchildren: Johnathan (Tristin) Hultman, Joel (Laura) Frazier, David (Lani) Doherty, Joseph Parkkila, Tori (Brad) Segerstrom. Great Grandchildren Sophia and Daniel Doherty, Ezekiel Segerstrom, Legend and Saoirse Frazier. Her Siblings Anna Artz, Jack (Melanie) Peterson, Kathy Johnson and Faye Peterson and numerous nieces, nephews and cousins.

Sharon was preceded in death by her parents Alfred and Neita Peterson, her brothers Joseph and Carl Peterson. Her grandsons Ryan and Daniel Doherty, former son-in-law Paul Hultman and brothers in law Larry Johnson and Larry Artz.

Special Thank you Transitions Assisted Living in Gladstone and OSF Hospice for the care provided to Sharon. Her sisters Kathy and Faye for all the visits and support and her granddaughter Tori for the visits, support and advocacy. Additional thanks to exceptional neighbors who looked out for and helped her when she was living at home Pete and Kathy Syers and the late Robert Cobb and Jim Tiernan.

Visitation will be on Sunday, October 18, 2026 from 12:00 noon until 2:00 p.m. at the Bowerman Funeral Home in Munising. A funeral service to celebrate Sharon’s life will be conducted by her grandson Joel and begins at 2:00 p.m. A private graveside service will follow.

In lieu of flowers please consider a donation to the Alger County Commission on Aging, 1604 Sand Point Road, Munising MI 49862.