Selma Loukinen

Obituary of Selma Loukinen Selma Loukinen died Thursday morning, April 27, 2006 at Portage Pointe, Hancock, MI Selma (Sally) Helena Wittaniemi-Loukinen, of Portage Pointe Long Term Care Facility died on April 27, 2006. She was born on December 24, 1918, in Jacobsville, the daughter of Arvid and Kaisa (Ylanki) Wittaniemi. She was a gifted student at the Jacobsville Community School and at the urging of her teacher she wanted to pursue a high school education and perhaps college. Her teacher had arranged for her to work for her room and board in Baraga to make this possible. But her father, Arvid Wittaniemi had refused to give her permission because she was needed on the farm. On July 26, 1941, she married Martin Edward Loukinen (1910-1996) who was born and raised in Princess Point, an obscure location on the Portage Canal near Jacobsville, MI. They started skating at the Silver Creek rink and it lasted a lifetime. They moved to Detroit where she did housework while Martin worked several jobs in the booming WW2 war production economy of the city. They rented from relatives and soon purchased a home at 13139 14th Street in Detroit near the Woodrow Wilson area, a popular hangout for migrants from the Upper Peninsula. The array of stores, saunas, apartments and taverns along Woodrow Wilson Avenue had already become the hub of the Finnish American community in Detroit by 1910. In 1955, they moved to Redford Township, a suburb northwest of Detroit where she was a home-maker. She later worked for the Lola Valley School District in their cafeteria. Every summer they returned to the shores of Jacobsville where they retired in 1972 and lived year round for twenty years. It was the same remote rural Finnish landscape and lifestyle that they had known as children and had never forgotten. By 1992, the aging couple moved to Hancock. Martin died in 1996 and Sally moved to Arbor Green, then the Apostolic Elders Home in Calumet and finally Portage Pointe Living Facility. In each place she developed a sense of true friendship and community, especially in Portage Pointe which she had come to regard as her home. Her children, Carole and Michael, are grateful for the loving support given by the good staff and residents in all places. She and her husband were members of the Old Apostolic Lutheran Church in the Detroit area and later in Hancock. The close bonds between the couple and members of this church community sustained them throughout their adult years. Also preceding her in death were seven sisters, Ida, Katie, Martha, Hilda, Hilma, Lydia, Tyyne and two brothers, Wilho and infant brother, Abner. She was the last survivor of nine siblings. Surviving are two children: Carole (James) Parshall of Northville, MI and Michael (Elaine) Loukinen of Marquette, MI. She has two grandchildren: Christy (Barry) Waite of South Hadley, MA and James Martin Maxwell of Howell, MI. She has three great grandchildren, Logan, Jared, and Sallie Waite. Also surviving are numerous nieces and nephews. Especially supportive was Judy Holman-Haltunen of Lake Linden and Bootjack who was always there when needed. The funeral ceremony for Mrs. Loukinen begins with a visitation from 6-9pm Friday, April 28th (this evening) at the Memorial Chapel Funeral Home in Hancock. The funeral service is at 1pm on Saturday, April 29th at the Old Apostolic Lutheran Church. Burial will be at the Jacobsville Cemetery with attendance limited to family members. In lieu of flowers please make any contribution payable to the "Garden Club of Portage Pointe" and mailed to Portage Pointe, 520 Campus Drive, Hancock, MI 49930. To send flowers to the family of Selma Loukinen, please visit Tribute Store