Miriam Haapapuro (Jurmu)

Obituary of Miriam Ina Haapapuro Hancock, Miriam Haapapuro, age 97, a resident of Cypress Manor for the past five years departed for her permanent home in heaven on Dec. 6, 2014. Miriam was born to the late Matthew and Maria Jurmu on May 11, 1917 in Paynesville, MI, the youngest of twelve children. She attended the Paynesville School and Wakefield H.S. until the death of her mother, when she returned home to care for her father. During WWII she worked in the defense industry in the Ann Arbor area. During this time she met Walter Haapapuro of the Army Air Corps and they married on April 21, 1945. They raised four boys: David, Joseph, James, and Gerald in South Range. Dad died on May 30, 1969 and Mom moved to Wakefield to be near her sisters. She worked for the Bergland School District as a teachers aid until retiring and moving to Florida for the winters in 1976. She loved to travel, visiting most of the western states, Finland, and touring with Elder Hostel in Europe and South America. She was known for her cheerful nature, love of animals, always having dogs and camping out. Even canoeing and camping in her 80's in the Okefenokee Swamp in Georgia. She is remembered by all for her marvelous meals and homemade niisu. In addition to her husband she was preceded in death by an infant sister, five older sisters and five older brothers and sons Joseph and David. She is survived by two sons, James (Mary), Ishpeming and Gerald, Houghton; daughter-in-law,Joanne, Atlantic Mine; grandchildren, Walter (Marni), Battle Creek, Jessica, Atlantic Mine, Matthew (Kathy), Entiat, WA, Joseph (Cassie), Gwinn, and Melissa, Ishpeming. And five great-grandchildren, Kiirsti, Erik, Erica, Jenna, and Khloe. She is also survived by nieces and nephews who thought she was the greatest auntie in the world. She was a member of the Atlantic Mine Apostolic Lutheran Church. Funeral services for Miriam will be held 12 noon Saturday December 13, 2014, at the Memorial Chapel Funeral Home of Hancock. Spring burial will be in the Liminga Cemetery. Visitation will be held at the Memorial Chapel, Hancock, MI on Dec. 13th. from 11 am to noon, services to follow. Inlieu of other expressions of sympathy the family suggests that memorials be given to Little Brother's Friends of the Elderly or the Omega House. To view Miriam'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 Miriam Haapapuro, please visit Tribute Store