Eleanor Kathryn Kinnunen

WAKEFIELD, Mich. — Eleanor Kathryn Kinnunen, 96, of Ironwood, passed away on Jan. 14, 2020 at Gogebic Medical Care Facility in Wakefield.

She was born on March 21, 1923, in Stambaugh, the daughter of the late Kazmer and Laura (Wierzbicki) Lenart.

Eleanor married Leonard Kinnunen in 1953 in Ironwood, where they remained lifelong residents. He preceded her in death in 2003.

Her hobbies in her younger years included fishing and gardening in the summer and sewing in the winter. She was an accomplished seamstress, and she made her own and her sister’s wedding dress. She also was a very good cook and loved trying new recipes. In her later years, she enjoyed going to bingo and the casino with her sisters.

Eleanor always had stories to share about her childhood growing up in Ironwood.  She loved being the prankster and always kept everyone on their toes with her sharp wit that she inherited from her mother.

She was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Leonard; sisters, Elizabeth Vernetti and Leona Pegoraro; and her brother, Jerome Lenart.

Eleanor is survived by her sister, Pauline Rabideau of Ironwood; and many nieces and nephews.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Friday, Jan. 24, at Our Lady of Peace Catholic Church at 11 a.m., with Fr. Binu Joseph as celebrant, preceded by a visitation from 10 a.m. until the time of the Mass.

A luncheon will follow in the church hall following the Mass.

Interment will take place in the spring at the Hurley Cemetery in Hurley, Wis.

Frick-Zielinski Funeral Home, Bessemer, is assisting the family. For more information or to express online condolences, please visit rangefuneralservices.com.