Kathryn MRS

Obituary of Kathryn Karkkainen MRS Hancock Kathryn E. Karkkainen, nee Puuri, a longtime resident of Hancock, Michigan and Lake Worth, Florida, passed away on December 20, 2013 at the Portage Health Hospital in Hancock following a brief hospitalization. Kathryn had been in declining health for an extended period. Kathryn Emma Puuri was born October 28, 1929 in Detroit, the sixth of eight children of Matt and Emma (Porkka) Puuri. In the 1930s, the Puuri family moved to Liminga, Stanton Township, MI, where they operated a dairy farm. Kathryn grew up on the family farm and attended Redridge School and Houghton High School, where she graduated in 1947. In July, 1950, Kathryn wed Carlo W. Karkkainen of Freda; they remained happily married until Carlo's death in 1998. Kathryn and Carlo lived for many years in Ishpeming, MI, where Carlo worked as a metallurgical engineer for Jones & Laughlin Steel. In 1968, they returned to their roots in the Copper Country, taking up residence in Hancock while Carlo worked for the Institute of Mineral Research at Michigan Tech. In their retirement years, they enjoyed summers in the Copper Country and winters at their condominium in Lake Worth, Florida. Kathryn continued to spend most winters in Florida after Carlo's death. She maintained her fierce independence, living at home for the most part in her later years. Kathryn was a loving and devoted wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, and aunt, and a friend to many. She was a longtime member of Zion Lutheran Church in Hancock. She was preceded in death by her parents, Matt and Emma Puuri; five brothers, Edwin, Ted, Robert, John, and Carl Puuri; her beloved sister Ruth (Puuri) Denofre; and her loving husband, Carlo W. Karkkainen. She is survived by a brother, Paul (Becky) Puuri of White Pine, MI; six children, Alan (Jeanne) Karkkainen of Dollar Bay, MI, Bradley (Ann) Karkkainen of Saint Paul, MN, Karen (Mel) Hawke of Richmond, MI, Cheryl (John) Voisine of Lafayette, IN, Mark Karkkainen of Menominee, MI, and Scott Karkkainen of Harrison Township, MI; eleven grandchildren; eleven great-grandchildren; and numerous nieces and nephews. She will be sorely missed by her family and friends, to whom she gave much joy, laughter, and love. Funeral services for Kathryn will be held 9:30 Friday morning December 27, 2013, at the Zion Lutheran Church of Hancock with Pastor Jesse Aho to officiate. Spring burial will be held in the family lot in the Liminga Cemetery. Visitation is scheduled for Thursday evening, December 26 from 5:00 to 7:00 PM at the Memorial Chapel Funeral Home at 1017 Quincy St, Hancock MI and on Friday morning December 27, 2013, from 9:00 am until time of services at the Zion Lutheran Church of Hancock. To view Kathryn's obituary or to send condolences to the family please visit www.memorialchapel.net. The Memorial Chapel & Plowe Funeral Homes have been assisting the family with the arrangements. To send flowers to the family of Kathryn MRS, please visit Tribute Store