Melvin W. Luoma

WOODRUFF, Wis. - Melvin W. Luoma, 95, of Ironwood, Michigan, passed away on Friday, Oct. 18, 2024, at the Howard Young Hospital in Woodruff.

Melvin was born on Oct. 3, 1929, in Davis Location, Bessemer, Michigan, to John and Jennie (Kivi) Luoma. He attended the Puritan School in Bessemer, Erwin Central School, and was a 1947 graduate of L.L. Wright High School.

Melvin was employed in Chicago before being drafted into the U.S. Army in 1951 where he served with the 25th Infantry Division in Korea. He was united in marriage with Helen E. Hautanen at Zion Ev. Lutheran Church in Ironwood on Nov. 28, 1951. She preceded him in death in 2009. On July 24, 2010, Melvin was united in marriage with Dolores "Dolly" Mattson Carlson in Ironwood.

Melvin worked for Kilponen Hardware in Ironwood and Giovannoni True Value Hardware in Hurley where he retired at the age of 85. He enjoyed feeding his deer, which he could feed by hand in Erwin Township. He was a member of Trinity Lutheran Church and served as the treasurer for 40 years. He also served on the Erwin Township School Board and was the Erwin Community Club president for 20 years.

He is survived by his wife Dolly; son, Mark (Ginny) Luoma of Park Falls; daughters, Suzanne (Gregg) Raisanen of Alexandria, Minnesota, and Colleen (Kevin) Corcoran of Ishpeming, Michigan; stepsons, Gary (Ginny) Carlson and Randy (Mary) Carlson; and stepdaughter, Sharon (Tom) Ravelli. Also surviving are seven grandchildren, Amy (Rocky) Vandermoon, John (Tashanna) Luoma, Amber (Quincy) Backen, Jennie (Eric) Christians, Abby (Scott) Blodgett, Kurt (Andria) Corcoran and Sean (Dani) Corcoran; step-grandchildren, A.J., Steven, Elizabeth and Chris; and 12 great-grandchildren, Kai, Kale, Ellie, Katie, Will, Braxton, Bailey, Ellis, Rowan, Matthew, Grace and Kaylee. He is further survived by his sister-in-law, Kathy Luoma; and other relatives and friends.

Melvin was preceded in death by his parents; his first wife, Helen; brothers, Clifford, Donald, Marvin and Richard "Dick"; sister, Mavis Wennersten; and his grandson, Matthew Luoma.

Visitation will be held at 10 a.m. on November 2, at the Trinity Lutheran Church in Ironwood. The funeral service will follow at the church at 11 a.m. The burial will take place at the Riverside Cemetery in Ironwood. Military honors will take place during the service. Honorary pallbearers will be Melvin's grandchildren Kurt, Sean, Amber, Jennie, Abby, Amy and John.

Memorials may be directed to the Trinity Lutheran Church or the Erwin Township Historical Society in Ironwood.

The family has chosen the McKevitt-Patrick Funeral Home in Ironwood to honor Melvin's legacy of life. To make an online condolence visit McKevittPatrickFuneralHome.com.