Champion – Marie Waisanen, age 96, a lifelong resident of Champion / Beacon passed away on Friday, December 4, 2015 at the Marquette County Medical Care Facility, where she had resided since August of 2013.

Marie was born on May 21, 1919 to Andrew and Olga (Mikkola) Kangas in the Village of Beacon, Township of Champion, Michigan. Marie graduated from the Champion High School, Class of 1936 and was the class valedictorian. In her later years when asked about a class reunion she would say she has one everyday as she was the last living member of her class. In February of 1942 Marie married Everett Waisanen Sr. and together they raised three boys.

After graduation from High School, Marie worked as the cook at the Cohodas Lodge until the early years of World War II. She also worked at the Village Market Grocery Store and the Red Owl Grocery Store both located in Champion. But she would say the most important job was raising her sons.

During her lifetime Marie enjoyed knitting, sewing, gardening, watching the birds at the feeders during the winter and the hummingbirds during the summer, reading, jigsaw, crossword and word search puzzles. She knitted over 100 Christmas Stockings for friends and relatives. Daily walks were in her routine no matter the weather.

Marie was preceded in death by her parents Andrew and Olga Kangas, husband Everett Waisanen, son John Waisanen, sister Anne Anderson, brother and sister-in-law Reino and Vi Kangas and brother John Kangas.

Marie is survived by her sons – Everett (Jan) Waisanen of Suttons Bay, Richard Waisanen of Champion, grandchildren - Alan Waisanen and Andrew (Linda) Waisanen both of Traverse City, Christine (Christos) Spilson of Portage, S/SGT Eric (Jayme) Skogen of Fort Lee, VA, along with eight great grandchildren, brother-in-law Herb Anderson of Marquette, and nieces Cheryl (Gerry) Knudsen, Karen (Pete) Morse, Chris (Roger) Calloway and Jill (Robert) Caikoski.

Marie will be greatly missed by her family as well as the communities of Champion and Humboldt.

The family will greet relatives and friends from 11:00am – 12:00noon on Tuesday, December 8, 2015 at the Bjork & Zhulkie Funeral Home in Ishpeming, where funeral services will follow at 12:00noon with the Rev. D. Michael Carriere to officiate. Interment will take place at the Champion Cemetery.

The family wishes to thank the Marquette Co. Medical Care Facility for the dedicated care and the wonderful staff of the 100 wing. A very special "Thank You" goes out to Jen who had a special bond with Marie.

In lieu of flowers, memorials donations may be directed to the Salvation Army or the American Cancer Society.

Marie's obituary may also be viewed at bjorkandzhulkie.com where relatives and friends may leave a note of remembrance.

As the staff at the Marquette County Medical Care Facility would say: "and then there's Marie."

The funeral service recording, when it becomes available, can be found here .