Serving Gogebic, Iron and Ontonagon Counties
Serving Gogebic, Iron and Ontonagon Counties
WYOMING, Mich. - Heaven gained an angel on Monday, April 30, when Hazel Marie (Salonen) Rouker, age 74, went to be with her Lord and Savior after a courageous battle with cancer.
Hazel is the daughter of Reino and Tyyne (Niemi) Salonen. She grew up the homecoming queen, tuba player and church organist in Bessemer.
Hazel went on to work as a McDonald's manager and then a meat buyer for Spartan Foods. More importantly, she shared her talents to become a seamstress, piano teacher, choir director, Little League mom (going all the way to the World Series), maker of beautiful quilts, full-time mother and confirmation mentor. One of her favorite roles was being a Stephen Minister and serving communion to others.
Hazel was preceded in death by her parents and brothers (Richard and John Salonen.)
She is survived by three siblings, (Arne Salonen, Margaret Johnson and Dorothy Pakonen.) She is also survived by her four daughters: Leana (Jimmy) Davison, Kristin (Burt) Peterson, Penni (Dan) Young, and Lysa (Dan) Stockwell. Her joys were her grandchildren, Paul, Whitney, Luke, Abby Lynn, Amanda, Matthew, and Jimmitrius. Hazel leaves behind many dear friends and family.
A Celebration of Life will be held on Saturday, June 30, at 11 a.m. at Christ Lutheran Church, 2350 44th Street SW, Wyoming. Visitation will be one hour prior and a luncheon will follow. Burial will take place at Hillcrest Cemetery in Bessemer on July 3 at 11 a.m. A luncheon will follow at Sharon Lutheran Church.
May we all rejoice in the confidence we have of knowing Hazel heard the words from her Father, "Well done, good and faithful servant," (Matthew 25:21a.)
Those wishing to make an expression of sympathy are kindly asked to consider donating in Hazel's memory to the building fund of a new ELCA Lutheran Church, 20987 N. John Wayne Parkway B104-180, Maricopa, Ariz., 85139.
