Serving Gogebic, Iron and Ontonagon Counties
Serving Gogebic, Iron and Ontonagon Counties
HURLEY, Wis. - Toini Maria (Luoma) Mandelin, 93, passed away peacefully in Hurley, on Dec. 9, 2021.
She was born in Wakefield, Michigan, on March 30, 1928, the daughter of Matt and Amanda Luoma.
Toini graduated from Wakefield High School in 1946 and moved to Milwaukee, where she graduated from the Business Institute of Milwaukee and began working at Ladish Malting Company as a secretary.
She was a member of Emmaus Lutheran Church in Milwaukee, where she met her husband, Milton, and they were married on Sept. 3, 1966. They had two sons and remained active in their church and community, including the Finnish American Society of Milwaukee and the Nordic Council of Wisconsin.
Toini was passionate about education, being a founding member of the Wisconsin Council for the Gifted and Talented, serving as its executive secretary for many years. She ended her career at the Greenfield Public Library.
Upon retirement, she and Milton returned to northern Wisconsin, joined Trinity Lutheran Church, and she continued to do volunteer work at Little Finland in Kimball.
Toini is survived by her husband, Milton of Iron Belt; her two sons, Arthur (Sharon) of Chicago, and Paul (Cathleen) of Bradbury, California; as well as four grandchildren, Lucian, Madalynn, Nathaniel and Micah.
A memorial service will be held on Tuesday, Dec. 28, at Trinity Lutheran Church in Ironwood Township at 11 a.m. with Pastor Matthew Gunia officiating, preceded by a visitation from 10 a.m. until the time of the service. All are welcome to attend and celebrate Toini's life. A lunch will follow in the church hall at Trinity Lutheran Church.
Flowers may be sent to Trinity Lutheran Church, E5104 E. Margaret St., Ironwood, MI, 49938. Condolences may be sent in care of the family to McKevitt-Patrick Funeral Home, P.O. Box 726, Ironwood, MI, 49938-0726.
Interment will take place in the spring at Hillside Cemetery in Iron Belt.
The family has chosen McKevitt-Patrick Funeral Home of Ironwood to honor Toini's legacy of life. You can leave a condolence or a tribute at mckevittpatrickfuneralhome.com.
