Arne W. Salonen

IRONWOOD, Mich. - Arne W. Salonen, 87, of Bessemer, passed away on June 24, 2020, at Westgate Nursing, Rehabilitation and Assisted Living Community in Ironwood.

He was born on Nov. 14, 1932, in Bessemer Township, the son of Reino and Tyyne (Niemi) Salonen. He attended Harding Grade School and graduated from A.D. Johnston High School in 1951 in Bessemer. He then attended Michigan Tech University in Houghton for man power training.

Arne worked at Conner Mill for 42½ years from 1955 until the mill closed.

He married Grace Olson on Dec. 22, 1951, and she preceded him in death. He then married Victoria Strand on June 22, 1983, at the Sharon Lutheran Church in Bessemer. She preceded him in death.

Arne was a lifetime member of the Sharon Lutheran Church and a member of the Harding Club in Bessemer. He enjoyed hunting, fishing, and was a rock hound and enjoyed making agate jewelry. He loved woodworking and built his own cabin.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Reino and Tyyne Salonen; his two wives, Grace and Victoria; daughter, Darcey McGowan; granddaughter, Grace Jean McGowan; brothers, John and Richard Salonen; and sisters, Margaret Johnson and Hazel Rouker.

Arne is survived by granddaughter, Christine (Robert) Fresonke of Bessemer; great-grandchildren, Grace and Sophia; stepchildren, Ted (Lauri) Strand of Sacramento, California, Karen Strand of Cambridge, Minnesota, and Marjorie Houtari-Strand of Spencer, Wisconsin; sister, Dorothy Pakonen of Virginia Beach, Virginia; former son-in-law, Doyle McGowan; and many other stepgrandchildren, stepgreat-grandchildren and nieces and nephews.

Per Arne's request, no services will be held.

The family is very grateful for the care Arne received from the staff through the years he was at the Westgate Nursing, Rehabilitation and Assisted Living Community in Ironwood.

The family has chosen Frick-Zielinski Funeral Home of Bessemer to honor Arne's legacy of life. One can leave a condolence or a tribute at rangefuneralservices.com.