Virginia Marie Koskela

Virginia Marie Koskela (nee Meister), age 96, passed away peacefully on November 12, 2024. She was born in Kaleva, Michigan, on October 31, 1928, to the late George Ferdinand Meister and Ailie Tekla Meister (nee Niemitalo).

Virginia is preceded in death by her loving husband Clifford (deceased July 7, 2010) and brothers Delbert and Gerald.

She grew up on her family’s fruit farm, helping out along with her 5 brothers. She remembered her grandfather Daniel Meister fondly. He looked after her as a young girl.

Virginia graduated from Onekama high school in 1945 at age 16, and then spent 10 weeks at MSU in a course on Homemaking. After her cousins Sylvia and Eleanor Niemitalo told her about the good paying jobs available in Detroit, she moved there at age 17, and went to work at the Bell Telephone Company. She loved living in Detroit and going to dances, concerts, and baseball and hockey games, where she met Ted Lindsay and Gordie Howe. She met Clifford Koskela at a dance at the Grande Ballroom in Detroit, and married him on November 17, 1951, at Trinity Lutheran Church in Onekama, Michigan. Virginia was strong in her Lutheran faith, regularly attending church, bible study, and reading the bible every day. Virginia and Clifford lived in Detroit and then moved to Harper Woods. After being a homemaker and raising her three children, she took a job with the city of Harper Woods, where she worked as the bookkeeper for the Controller from August 2, 1965, until retiring on February 19, 1989. Virginia fondly remembered the many friends and the good times she had while working there.

Virginia was a beloved wife, mother, sister, aunt, grandmother, great-grandmother and friend. She was kind, thoughtful, and giving to all. With her remarkable memory, she never forgot a birthday, anniversary, or names of acquaintances and special events over her long life. Her counsel was valued and she gave unwavering support to everyone lucky enough to be in her life. Virginia’s legacy is the many people whose lives have been touched, shaped, and influenced by her love and compassion.

She is survived by her children Peggy, Larry (Bonnie), and Michael (Lesli) Koskela, brothers Don (Kay), Ellis (Dawn), and Joel (Carol) Meister, grandchildren Joseph (Caitlin), Lisa (Danny), George (Grace), Max, John, and Juliette, and great-grandchildren Otto, Ford, Graham, Brady, and Connor.

A visitation will be held Tuesday, November 19, 2024, from 2:00 PM to 8:00 PM at A. H. Peters Funeral Home, 20705 Mack Ave., Grosse Pointe Woods, MI 48236. A funeral service will be held Wednesday, November 20, 2024, at 2:00 PM (an in state at 1:30 PM) at A. H. Peters Funeral Home, 20705 Mack Ave., Grosse Pointe Woods, MI 48236.

Memorial contributions may be made in Virginia's honor to St. Mark Lutheran Church, 26830 W Park St., Roseville, MI 48066.