Helen M. Kauppi

IRONWOOD, Mich. - Helen M. Kauppi, 98, of Ironwood, died on Thursday, Jan. 26, 2017, at Aspirus Ironwood Hospital.

She was born May 19, 1918, in Bessemer, the daughter of the late John Reeta (Piri) Morris. She was a 1937 graduate of A.D. Johnston High School in Bessemer.

Helen worked in Chicago during the 1940s, periodically returning the Bessemer to help take care of her mother. It was during one of her trips home, while working as a waitress at the Blue Link Café in Ironwood, she met her future husband, Everett Kauppi. On Aug. 30, 1947, they were united in marriage at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Ironwood. He preceded her in death on July 19, 1980.

Helen had been employed at the Daily Globe in the mailroom and worked part-time at the Food Shop grocery store in Ironwood. She was a member of the St. Paul Lutheran Church in Ironwood.

Surviving are her two sons, Ken (Jeannie) Kauppi, of New Braunfels, Texas, and Ron Kauppi, of Two Rivers, Wis.

In addition to her husband and parents, she was preceded in death by two brothers, Charles and Emil Morris; and three sisters, Impi Marie and Mae Morris, and Sylvia Hill.

"Helen was a wonderful mother and will be greatly missed."

The funeral service will be held at 11 a.m., on Wednesday, Feb. 1, at the Ketola-Burla Funeral Home in Ironwood. The Reverend John Palutke will officiate. Visitation will be one hour prior to the service at the funeral home on Wednesday.

Spring burial will be in the Riverside Cemetery in Ironwood.

Range Funeral Service, Ketola-Burla Funeral Home is assisting the family with arrangements. To send online condolences, visit us at rangefuneralservices.com.