Serving Gogebic, Iron and Ontonagon Counties
Serving Gogebic, Iron and Ontonagon Counties
HURLEY, Wis. - Signe E. Saari, 91, of Southland Avenue in Ironwood, died Thursday, July 24, 2014, in Hurley.
She was born Aug. 23, 1922, in Kimball, Wis., daughter of the late Anton and Maria (Mattila) Maki. She was an Ironwood area resident most of her life.
During her lifetime, Signe was employed at the Mellen Lumber Mill, Powderhorn Ski Lodge, and Lac du Flambeau School as a cook.
Signe was very family oriented and a very strong lady. She was the true meaning of SISU. She came from a family of 14 children, was the last of the 14 children to pass away and lived to be older than any of her siblings.
She is survived by two sons, Arvo (Ellen) Saari, of Marengo, Wis., and Byron (Mary), of Hurley; and one daughter, Myra (William) Maki, of Kimball. She is also survived by 16 grandchildren, Lawrence (Michelle) Saari of Solon Springs, Wis., Tracy (Peter) Morris, Ashland, Wis., Cindy (Kenneth Brune) Saari, Newburgh, N.Y., Kristine (Bruce) Carey, Eau Claire, Wis., Denise (Mitch) King, Wausau, Wis., Jean Saari, Phoenix, Ariz., Daniel Saari, Phoenix, Dean (Judi) Saari, Tekonsha, Mich., Cheri (Gordon) Hoff, Ironwood, William Maki, Jr., Kimball, Kenneth (Amy) Saari, Jr., Carey, Wis., Brian Saari, Wausau, Lisa (Don) LeDoux, Duluth, Minn., Jason (Ashley) Saari, Ironwood, Stacy (Victor) Aho, Menahgha, Minn., and Joshua Saari, Wisconsin Dells, Wis .; one daughter-in-law, Beth Saari of Hurley; and 24 great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by two sons, Kenneth and Dennis Saari; one daughter, Arlove Champion; one granddaughter, Lylee Champion; one great-granddaughter, Bailie Saari; six sisters and seven brothers.
Cremation has taken place at the Range Crematory in Hurley.
A memorial service will be held Saturday, Aug. 2, 2014, at 2 p.m. at the Ketola-Burla Funeral Home, 635 East Ayer Street, Ironwood. Rev. Kurt Kovanen will officiate. The family will receive friends from 1 p.m. until the time of the service. Inurnment will be in the Riverside Cemetery in Ironwood.
Arrangements are by Range Funeral Service and Crematory, Ketola-Burla Funeral Home of Ironwood.
