Phillip D. 'Bud' Pepin

ISHPEMING – Phillip D. "Bud" Pepin, 81, formerly of 321 W. Barnum St. in Ishpeming, died Sunday morning, June 8, 2008 at the D.J. Jacobetti Home for Veterans in Marquette. He had resided at the Jacobetti Home since January 2006.

Phillip was born to Philip and Eleanor (Pascoe) Pepin on June 18, 1926, in Ishpeming.

Before graduating from Ishpeming High School, Phillip volunteered to serve in World War II. He entered into the U.S. Navy in April 1944. He finished Naval Training School at the University of Wisconsin in October 1944. He served in the Navy as a radio operator aboard the USS Crockett and the USS Osberg. After receiving several military ribbons for his service in the Pacific Theater in the Philippines, he was honorably discharged in May 1946.

In 1953, he began a 30-year career as a letter carrier with the U.S. Postal Service in Ishpeming. It was here that Phillip became well-known to his postal patrons for his wit. He was always willing to share a new joke he'd heard or made up while walking his route. He retired from work at the Ishpeming Post Office in January 1983.

Phillip loved sports and throughout the various stages of his life, he was active in local baseball, horseshoe and bowling leagues. He also enjoyed fishing and taking rides in the woods with his dog Toivo. He was an avid walker who enjoyed taking in the sights of Ishpeming while stopping to talk with friends and neighbors as he often did on his mail route. He also had several coffee shop buddies whose friendships he cherished.

Phillip was a member of Ishpeming VFW Post 4573, Ishpeming AMVETS Post 122 and for more than 50 years, he belonged to Ishpeming Elks Lodge 447, where he was a past Elk of the Year (1980). He enjoyed volunteering his service to residents at the Jacobetti Home for Veterans and the Iron Mountain VA Medical Center in Iron Mountain. He also liked raising the flag for home football games of the Ishpeming Hematites. He also contributed to numerous local and national non-profit endeavors. In 2000, 56 years after Phillip was inducted into the armed forces, he was honored to be among 32 veterans who were presented their high school diplomas from Ishpeming High School.

Phillip married Patricia Field on March 23, 1956 in Republic. The couple made their home in Ishpeming, had four children together and divorced in 1975. In August 1990, Phillip married Rita "Tina" Farrant who preceded Phillip in death in December 1996.

Survivors include two sons John Pepin of Munising and James Pepin of Thunder Bay, Ont., and two daughters Marcia Graham of Thunder Bay, Ont., and Annie Pepin of Ishpeming; his grandchildren, James Pepin and Jeffrey Pepin of Azusa, Calif., and Jessica Graham and Kelly Graham of Thunder Bay, Ont.

In addition to his parents and wife, Phillip was preceded in death by a sister, Rose Nault and two brothers, Francis Pepin and Bernard Pepin.

Friends may call at the Bjork and Zhulkie Funeral Home in Ishpeming from 6 to 8 p.m. Wednesday, June 11. An Elks Memorial Service will be held at 7:45 p.m. Wednesday as part of the visitation. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 11 a.m. Thursday at St. Joseph Parish in Ishpeming with Father James Challancin presiding. There will also be visitation at the church prior to the service, beginning at 10:30 a.m. A graveside veterans' observance will be held at the Ishpeming Cemetery immediately after the mass. A reception will follow at the church.

Memorial contributions may be directed to the D.J. Jacobetti Home for Veterans, Ishpeming VFW or Ishpeming AMVETS. The Bjork and Zhulkie Funeral Home is serving the family. Phillip's online guestbook may be signed at www.bjorkandzhulkie.com