Ishpeming Twp. - Lewellyn "Lew" F. Rivord, age 80, of 100 S. Pansy St. passed away to higher hunting grounds, on Wednesday, March 12, 2008 at his home while in the company of his loved ones and under the wonderful ministry of U.P. Home Health and Hospice.

Lew was born in Marquette, Michigan on May 17, 1927, the son of the late Dona Theodore and Lucy (Moggs) Rivord. He left school to proudly serve his country by joining the United States Navy serving during WWII in the Asiatic Pacific Theater. Later her graduated from Ishpeming Community Schools and attended NMU.

Lew married his childhood sweetheart, Myrtle Nelson in July of 1948. Then relocated to the Chicago area, where he had worked on the Railroad, and then as a shop foreman for the Briggs Transportation, and finally Chippewa Motor Freight. He and Myrtle raised six children before returning back to the Upper Peninsula in 1968. He worked as a heavy machine mechanic for Lindberg and Sons and later as an Union Millwright during the construction of the Empire Mine. For the past 25 years, Lew served as a landlord, owning several area apartments. He was a member of the Riverside Club, the Ishpeming VFW, the Ishpeming Men's Pool League, and the St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church, and formerly sang in the St. Pius X Church Choir. He enjoyed fishing on Lake Superior, hunting, shooting pool with his friends and gardening.

Survivors include his wife of 59 years: Myrtle (Nelson) Rivord, daughters: Linda DeGabriele of Negaunee, MI, Barbara (Arthur) Dery of Deming, NM, Mary K. (Jack) Holkko of Ishpeming, MI, Sons: Robert (Marsha Jonas) Rivord of Ishpeming, MI, Dennis Rivord of Palmer, MI, John (Suzy Hupp) Rivord of Ishpeming, MI, son-in-law: Greg DeGabriele of Negaunee, MI, special sister: Dolores Jacobson of Ann Arbor, MI, sister in law Madonna Rivard of Negaunee, MI, brother in law Russell Balconi of Ishpeming, Grandchildren: Jeffery DeGabriele, Arthur Dery, Jr., Daniel Rivord, Toby Rivord, James Dery, Shiloh Bean, Julie Plankey, Michael Rivord, Kathy Poirier, Christopher Rivord, Denci Thomas, Jason Rivord, Angela DeGabriele, Suzanne DeGabriele, Maryanne DeGabriele, and Elizabeth Holkko, 15 Great Grandchildren and several Nieces and Nephews. Lew was preceded in death by a sister Evelyn Balconi, 2 brothers Leonard Rivord and Norman Rivard, and his faithful dog "Uncle Charlie"

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 11:00am on Monday, March 17, 2008 at St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church, with Fr. Greg Heikkala officiating and Lew's grandsons as pallbearers. Interment will take place at the Ishpeming Cemetery.

The family will greet friends and relatives from 5:00pm until 8:00pm at the Bjork & Zhulkie Funeral Home on Sunday, March 16, 2008, where the Ishpeming VFW will hold a military prayer service at 7:30pm, with a parish prayer service to follow. The family will also greet friends and relatives on Monday, March 17 from 10:00am until the time of services at St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church.