Phyllis E Wigg

Phyllis E. Wigg, age 100, of Milford, Michigan died peacefully at the Suncrest Nursing Home, Milford, MI, April 27, 2022.

Phyllis Elvira Carlson was the youngest daughter, and 11th child of Swedish immigrants, Gustaf E. Carlson and Anna Kajsa Carlson. She was born in Ashland, Wisconsin in September 1921; her siblings were Clarence, Van, Olga, George, Albert, Carl, Erhart, Doris, Eddy, Bob and David. Phyllis attended Michigan State University (Michigan State College of Agriculture and Applied Science) earning a degree in Home Economics. While at college she met Paul Wigg and when he returned from serving in World War II, they married.

Because of Paul’s job as a state park manager for Michigan Department of Natural Resources, the family always lived in a state park. As people raised during the Great Depression (1929-1938), Phyllis and her husband took their children to pick wild blueberries, apples from abandoned orchards, asparagus, and rhubarb growing wild along roadsides. They always had a garden and Phyllis made sure the shelves were full of home-canned fruit, vegetables, and especially bread & butter pickles. Phyllis valued her Swedish heritage and enjoyed celebrating St. Lucia Day and hosting smorgasbords with her friends. Phyllis worked in a munitions factory during the war and later taught briefly, then worked in the middle school kitchen for the Waterford Township School District. She was very interested in crafts and developed a life-long passion for quilting. With Paul, she sold her quilts at craft shows, and made many wonderful quilts for her children, family, and friends.

Phyllis and Paul were each raised in the Lutheran Church and were active members wherever they moved. As consistent attenders, they made friends, joined activities to support the church and the community, and helped to start Hope Lutheran Church, Plainwell, MI.

Phyllis is survived by children Ristiina Wigg, Corning NY, David Wigg (Jill), Highland MI, Andrew Wigg (Ginny), Tucson, AZ, Peter Wigg (Mary), Long Island NY. Additional survivors are grandchildren Zachary Kotowski, Sioux Falls SD; Todd Wigg (Becky), Hastings MI; Lenna Borkowski (Jeff), Apex NC; and Phyllis’s sister-in-law Ruth Carlson, Slacks Creek, Australia. Phyllis enjoyed keeping in touch with her many nieces and nephews and their children, grand-children and great-grandchildren, including

Karen Welton, Port Washington WI; Jue McDougell, (Dan) Downers Grove IL; Chris Umberger, Springfield VA; Philip Carlson (Carol), Lambertville NJ; Kevin Carlson, Herbst WI; Kyle Carlson (Ann-Marie), Superior WI; Linda Anderson (Al) San Antonio TX; Jennifer Oates (John) San Antonio, TX; Thor Carlson (Julie), Regents Park, Australia; Renata Carlson, Slacks Creek, Australia; Van Carlson (Julie) North Oaks, MN; Jan Carlson; Brian Carlson, Northglenn, CO; Dick Berry (Barb), Ashland, WI; Kay Hudack (John), Wisconsin; Vanice DeVirgiliis (Joe), Georgetown, TX.

There will be visiting hours later in May and a service at Christ Lutheran Church, Waterford, MI where family and friends can gather to celebrate Phyllis’s life.

In memory of Phyllis, donations may be made to

Hope Lutheran Church, 290 12th Street, Plainwell, MI 4908, or to

Lutheran World Relief Mission Quilts and Kits of Care, P.O. Box 17061, Baltimore MD 2129

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