Ruth A Laakso

Ruth A. Laakso, 97, longtime resident of Poplar and Oulu Wisconsin, died Friday, August 19, 2016 at the Golden Living Center in Superior.

She was born on June 18, 1919 in Oulu, WI to Matthew and Alexandra (Aho) Jurvelin.

Ruth attended the Warren and Washington Schools in Oulu. She moved to Chicago and became a Nanny. Then when the war began she moved to Detroit to work on Planes to support the war effort.

Ruth returned to the Oulu area to assist family and worked at Butler Shipyards as a Burner to further support the war effort.

Following the war she married her husband, Arne Laakso, after which they owned and operated the Laakso Family farm in Oulu for many years. They were married until his death in 1981.
She was a member of Peace Lutheran Church in Poplar and Hope Lutheran Church in Oulu; The Rebecca Lodge and the VFW Auxiliary of Iron River, WI.

Ruth will be remembered as a lifelong learner. She enjoyed reading, knitting traveling, crocheting, art, music and mysteries. Later she enjoyed teaching her caregivers Finnish words.  She also loved her canine companion, Tucker. Ruth had a way of making people laugh by an unexpected comment delivered with deadpan precision. She was loved by all who came to know her.

She is survived by two daughters, Kathleen (Ted Pellman) Laakso, Superior, WI and Carol (Randy) Jones, Poplar, WI; three sons, Glenn Laakso, Kevin Laakso and Keith Laakso, all of Iron River, WI; eight grandchildren, Stephanie (Chad) Trebilcock, Hawthorne, WI; Jessie (Terry) Pearson, Oakland, WI; Andy Sullivan, Sparta, WI; Amanda (Mark) Banks-Grymala, Viola, WI; Heather (Doug Wyant) Laakso, Iron River, WI; Jacob (Marie) Laakso, Iron River, WI; Angela (Scott Shober) Laakso, Wrenshall, MN; Shawndelle (Frank) Zampitella, Cliffton Heights, Philadelphia; several great-grandchildren; one great-great grandchild; two sisters-in-law, Aune Maki, Esko, MN and Agnes Laakso, Oulu, WI; and several nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Arne Laakso; son, Gary Laakso; Infant son, LeRoy Laakso; Infant great-grandson, Dallas Pearson; one sister, Mary Aho; and five brothers, Edward, Walfred, Eino, Donald and George Jurvelin.

Illie’s grandchildren will be recognized as pallbearers.

Visitation will be from 5:00 to 7:00 PM, Wednesday, August 24, 2016 in the Lenroot-Maetzold Funeral Home, 1209 East 5 ^th Street, Superior, WI.

Visitation will continue at 10:00 AM, Thursday, August 25, 2016 in Hope Lutheran Church, in Oulu and continue until the 11:00 AM Funeral Service with Pastor Scott Stai, officiating .