Bernice Margaret (Dickman) Kosey, 95, passed away on December 6, 2010, at Bayside Village in L'Anse, Michigan.

She was born April 21, 1915, in Milwaukee, Wisconsin; the eldest daughter of Michael and Helen Dickman. She grew up and graduated from high school in Grafton, Wisconsin. On March 19, 1935, she married Paul L. Kosey in Houghton, Michigan. Paul preceded Bernice in death in 1994 after 59 years of marriage. They both gave freely of their time to others and their greatest joy was spending time with family.

At the age of 50, Bernice attended St. Joseph School of Nursing in Hancock, Michigan, where she graduated as a Certified Nurse's Aide. She went on to work at Winkler Nursing Home for two years. During that time, she was also involved with the Upper Michigan Community on Aging (UPCAP), where she served as a board member for 20 years and organized programs for senior citizens. She also became the first director of Baragaland Senior Citizens, Inc., one of the first centers of this type in the Upper Peninsula, and the first to receive millage from county taxes for aging programs. After 22 years as director, Bernice retired at the age of 72.

Bernice also served on many community and social action boards, including Baraga-Houghton-Keweenaw Community Action, Baraga County Transit Authority, and the Baraga County and L'Anse Housing Commissions. In later years, after moving to Ontonagon, she served on the Gogebic-Ontonagon County Commission on Aging, was president of the Riverview Senior Center, and volunteered at the Chamber of Commerce Visitor's Center. Her achievements have been widely recognized by many awards and honors through the years, including the Gerald Wyman Award for outstanding service to Michigan's elderly, as well as being honored at the Women's Center of NMU as the 1979 "Woman of the Year from Baraga County." Bernice also received an invitation to the White House in Washington, D.C. She was truly a remarkable woman, social activist, and inspiration to all who knew and loved her.

Bernice is survived by granddaughter, Sandra (Doug) Bressler; daughter, Pauline Wesander; daughter-in-law, Patricia Kosey; sister-in-law, Alice Kosey; 7 other grandchildren; 11 great-grandchildren; 8 great-great grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Paul; son, Ron; daughter, Joan; brother Elroy; and sister, Madeline Freitag.

A memorial service for Bernice will take place in the spring at the Cane Funeral Home, with inurnment at Riverside Cemetery in Ontonagon.