Kenneth P. Ruotsala

IRONWOOD, Mich. - Kenneth P. Ruotsala, 72, of Ironwood Township, passed away peacefully on Saturday, June 18, 2016, in Ironwood.

He was born March 16, 1944, in Ironwood, the son of Edwin and Seeri (Levijoki) Ruotsala.

Ken attended Roosevelt Grade School and graduated from the Luther L. Wright High School in Ironwood. He also attended Gogebic Community College where he received an associate degree in business. He then attended Dunwoody Industrial Institute in Minneapolis, where he received his diploma in baking. He was employed at Carlson's Super Market in Ironwood. In 1976, he began operating the Pastry Kitchen until his retirement in 2011.

Ken's passion and dedication for baking became his life. He also loved fishing Lake Superior for salmon and lake trout with his family and friends. Ken worked with his brothers building homes, owned and operated a clothing store in Ashland, Wis., and also worked at a hotel in the Copper Country. He was a member of the Apostolic Lutheran Church in Ironwood and the Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in Kimball, Wis.

On Aug. 2, 1968, he married the former Joan Karlin in Esko, Minn. She survives. Also surviving are their children, Brian (Charity) Ruotsala, Michael Ruotsala, and Kathy (Tom) Perez, all of Ironwood; 14 grandchildren, Jonah, Emily, Nathan, Maria, Simeon, Kimberley, Abigail, Alexandra, Tom Jr., Melissa, Levi, Isaiah, Uriah and Naomi; his brothers and sisters, Marcus (Alice) Ruotsala, David (Diana) Ruotsala, Marie (Kenneth) Kinnunen, and Betty (Rick) Estola, all of Ironwood, and John (Colleen) Ruotsala of New Ipswich, N.H .; and numerous nieces, nephews and extended family.

Funeral services will be held 11 a.m. on Wednesday, June 22, at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in Kimball. Officiating will be by Rev. Norman Kangas, assisted by Rev. Steven Estola.

Kenneth's family will receive relatives and friends at 10 a.m. at the church on Wednesday.

Burial will be in the Sunset Acres Cemetery in Ironwood Township. Pallbearers will be his sons, Brian and Michael Ruotsala, and his grandsons, Jonah and Nathan Ruotsala, and Isaiah and Uriah Aili.

Ken's family would like to thank Gogebic Medical Care Facility for their kindness and support.

Range Funeral Service Inc., Ketola-Burla Funeral Home of Ironwood is assisting the family with arrangements. To view this obituary on line or express on line condolences, visit us at rangefuneralservices.com.