Charmaine F Wiitala

Lansing

Charmaine Ann (Freeman) Wiitala, 92, a longtime Copper Country resident, currently

residing in Lansing, passed away after a short illness.

Charmaine was born on May 3, 1933, to Charles E. and Evelyn (Robinson) Freeman, in

Stambaugh, Michigan. She was primarily raised by her grandparents, Charles and Clara

Robinson, who managed different business interests, and grew up in Iron River,

Manistique, and Escanaba, while also spending summers at her grandparents’ summer

cottage on Chicagoan Lake in Iron County. She graduated from high school in

Escanaba in 1951.

While attending Northern Michigan College of Education (now NMU) in Marquette, she

met Harold W. Wiitala, and married him on September 5, 1953, in Escanaba.

Charmaine followed Harold where his teaching career took him, and they resided in

Felch, Metropolitan, and Ann Arbor, before settling in Misery Bay, where they made their

home for many years. After Harold’s passing on December 26, 2001, she made her

home at Arbor Green Apartments in Houghton, before moving in early 2021, for health

reasons, to the Lansing area.

Charmaine was a keen conversationalist and enjoyed meeting new people. She also

enjoyed reading (especially Agatha Christie mysteries and British royal family

biographies), and crossword and jigsaw puzzles.

Besides her husband, Charmaine was preceded in death by her parents, stepfather

Ralph Smart, an infant son in 1954, her daughter Katelyn Jane Peach in 2025, and her

half-sister, Jane Smart. She was also preceded in death by her in-laws: Harold H. and

Ingrid (Suksi) Wiitala and Elaine Anuta.

Survivors include her children: Karen of Tacoma, WA; Howard of

Moyock, NC; Craig (Carmen) of Virginia Beach, VA; Claire (Scott) Wiltsie of Monroe,

NC; and Matt (Sheila) of Lansing. She is also survived by seven grandchildren and a

step-grandchild, and six great-grandchildren. She is further survived by her son-in-law

Jim Peach of Sault Ste. Marie, MI; her brother-in-law, Michael J. Anuta, of White Bear

Lake Township, MN, and her niece and nephew: Kirsti (Ahvo) Taipale of St. Paul, MN,

and Michael A. (Jean) Anuta of Marinette and their children.

Per Charmaine’s wishes, she will be cremated. There will be no visitation or funeral

service. Burial of her ashes will take place later this year at Forest Hill Cemetery in

Houghton. Friends and family are welcome to attend, and a notice of the exact date will

be forthcoming. In lieu of cards and/or flowers, contributions may be made in

Charmaine’s memory to the Little Brothers Friends of the Elderly in Hancock.

To view this obituary or to send condolences online to the family, please visit www.memorialchapel.net.

The Memorial Chapel Funeral & Cremation Service – Hancock Chapel is assisting the family with the arrangements.