Esther Kuopus

Obituary of Esther Kuopus Houghton Esther M. Kuopus, 84, a resident of the Arbor Green Apartments in Houghton, passed away Friday, December 25, 2009, at Portage Health in Hancock shortly after being admitted. She was born in Painesdale on May 10, 1925 to the late Charles and Henrietta (Spurr) Palmer and was a graduate of the Jeffers High School. She married the late Paul Walikainen in 1945, and he passed away in 1985. The family lived in Detroit for many years before returning to Hancock in 1969. Esther worked at the Copper Range Store in Painesdale and Gartner's Department Store in Hancock, and co-owned and operated Paul's Bar in Hancock and Walikainen's Market in South Range, with her husband, Paul. Esther married Stanley Kuopus on Valentine's Day 1990, and they lived in Houghton for the past 19 years. She was an avid Green Bay Packers and New York Yankees fan, and she also enjoyed playing pinochle at Arbor Green. Esther will be remembered for cheering on her son and grandson's Frisbee teams over the years. Her famous Cornish pasties will also be fondly remembered. Esther was devoted to her family and friends, and she was cherished by all who knew her. She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Paul; son, Paul; brothers, Osborne, Walter, Charles, and Robert; and sisters, Agnes Palmer, Gertrude Smith, Lillian Trudgeon, and Alice Palmer; and son-in-law William Carpenter. She is survived by her husband, Stanley; sons Gordon (Gail) Walikainen of North Carolina and Dennis (Emily) Walikainen of Hancock; daughter Diane Carpenter of New Mexico; grandchildren Corey Walikainen (Cassandra Casebeer) of Arizona and Mary Joe Rome of New York; Billy (Shelby) and Amanda Carpenter of Texas; Shaun (Kelley) Berry of Hawai'i and Jacob Walikainen of Detroit; and Laura Walikainen of Delaware and John Walikainen of Hancock; and great-grandchildren Chloe Carpenter, Max and Ava Rome, and Bryce, Luke, and Ian Berry; special nieces, Lillian Coponen, Nancy Rugani, and Trudy Newhouse; several additional nieces, nephews, and cousins; and special friend, Hazel Tepsa. Funeral services will be held at the Memorial Chapel Funeral Home of Hancock at 1:00 p.m., Wednesday, December 30, 2009 with Fr. John Martignon to officiate. Friends may call at the funeral home from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m., Wednesday, December 30, 2009. Spring burial will be at Lakeside Cemetery in Hancock. Memorials may be made in memory of Esther to the Hancock Public Schools Foundation. To send flowers to the family of Esther Kuopus, please visit Tribute Store