Lempi Marie Rouse

IRONWOOD, Mich. - Lempi Marie Rouse, 94, a lifelong resident of Ironwood Township, passed away on Sunday, June 23, 2019, at Aspirus Ironwood Hospital, with her loving family at her side.

Marie was born to the late Henry and Hanna (Mesimaki) Kinnunen on Jan. 6, 1925. She attended Roosevelt School in Ironwood Township.

On June 28, 1947, Marie was united in marriage to Irving Rouse at the Ironwood Apostolic Lutheran Church, where she was a lifelong member. They were blessed with nine children. He preceded her in death on Feb. 16, 1979.

Marie enjoyed cooking, gardening and was noted for her baking abilities. She had a generous and serving heart, always putting others first. Everyone was treated and welcomed as family, never leaving her home hungry. Marie loved her family, and most importantly her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

Marie is survived by her nine children, Jack, Ironwood, Bob, Vancouver, Wash., Mary (Byron) Saari, Hurley, Wis., Jerry (Janice), Ironwood, Nancy (Rich) Rintala, Hurley, Betty Baldovin, Hurley, Shirley (Steve) McDonald, Phoenix, Ariz., Susan (Mark) Lauren, Gurney, Wis., and Sharon (Mitch) Fleig, Saxon, Wis. She is further survived by 18 grandchildren, 50 great-grandchildren, numerous relatives and friends.

In addition to her husband and parents, she was preceded in death by her son-in-law, Larry Baldovin, in 2017; a great-granddaughter, Bailei Saari in infancy, in 2007; five brothers, Edwin, Rueben, Eino, Waino and Arnie Kinnunen; and four sisters, Saima Peterson, Ruth Erickson, Helen Levijoki and Margie Niemitalo.

A funeral service will be held on Wednesday, July 3, at 1 p.m., preceded by visitation beginning at 11:30 a.m., at the Ironwood Apostolic Lutheran Church, 326 W. Aurora St., in Ironwood, with the Reverend Bruce Estola and Reverend Alan Estola officiating.

Pallbearers will be her sons-in-law, Byron Saari, Rich Rintala, Mark Lauren and Mitch Fleig, and grandsons, Jason Saari and Brett Rouse.

A committal service and interment will take place at Sunset Acres Cemetery, Ironwood Township.

Upon returning from the cemetery, a luncheon will be served at the Ironwood Apostolic Lutheran Church.

The family wishes to thank everyone at the Villa Maria Nursing Home in Hurley, for the kindness and care that was given to Marie during her stay.

Funeral arrangements have been entrusted to Jerald Rocco, owner and manager of Lakeside Memorial Chapel Inc., in Wakefield. Condolences may be expressed online at lakesidememorialchapel.com.