Isabelle Haapoja

IRONWOOD, Mich. - Isabelle E. Cabianca Haapoja, 91, of Yale Location, Bessemer, died in Ironwood on Wednesday, March 25, 2015.

Isabelle was born on Dec. 16, 1923, in Bessemer, daughter of Calisto and Theresa (Grasso) Cabianca.

Isabelle attended the Barber School, Washington Elementary School and was valedictorian of the A.D. Johnson High School Class of 1941. Isabelle worked at the Grand View Hospital in the business department during her high school years. After high school, Isabelle worked at Tank Engineering and then Tank Automotive in the Fisher Building in Detroit. 

When she returned to Bessemer, she worked as the administrative secretary at the A.D. Johnson High School until her marriage to Leslie Sanford Haapoja. Isabelle worked for General Insurance for over 20 years. She was the Bessemer City Clerk from 1975 to 1980 and the Bessemer City Treasurer from 1980 until her retirement in 1998 at the age of 75.

Isabelle was the Bessemer Area Little League Treasurer for 50 years and sold tickets for the baseball, football and basketball programs for over 50 years. She received the Rueben Langdon "Fan of the Year" Award in 1983 and loved her Bessemer Speed Boys and Speed Girls.

Isabelle was married to Leslie Sanford Haapoja until his death on June 8, 1969.

She is survived by two sons, Larry (Kaye) of Crystal, Minn., and Jeffrey (Teka), of Ironwood; two grandsons, Donny and Brandon Haapoja; two granddaughters, Tammy (Mike) Livermore and Leslie Haapoja; a step-grandson Rod (Melissa) Kemppainen; a step-granddaughter Kristin Kemppainen; four great-grandsons, Garrett Riffe, Gabriel and Cayden Harju, and Brayden Haapoja; four great-granddaughters, Ashley and Mikaylla Livermore, Abby Jo Keranen and Lorelai Haapoja; and one step-great-granddaughter, Brynn Kemppainen. Isabelle is survived by a sister, Irene Fingeroos, of Bessemer; and a sister-in-law, Shirley Cabianca, of Bessemer; many special nieces and nephews and special friends, Vince and Barb Polkus, of Bessemer.

In addition to her parents and her husband, she was preceded in death by two brothers, Lawrence Cabianca and Clarence Cabianca, both of Bessemer; and two sisters, Rose Slovak and Florence Gustafson.

The family would like to extend their gratitude to all caregivers, cooks and residents for the wonderful care given to Isabelle during the past two years at Keenagers.

A mass of Christian Burial will be held on Monday, March 30, 2015, at 11 a.m. at St. Sebastian Catholic Church in Bessemer with Father Antony Lukka as celebrant.

Visitation will be held from 10 a.m. until the time of service. Spring internment will be in the Hillcrest Cemetery in Bessemer.

Arrangements are being made by Range Funeral Service, Inc., Frick-Zelinski Funeral Home in Bessemer.

"My mother is my root, my foundation. She planted the seed that I base my life on, and that is the belief that the ability to achieve starts in your mind."

-Michael Jordan