Marquette – Irene E. Kauppila, age 84, of Marquette, passed away on Sunday Sept. 24, 2017 at UP Health System Marquette where she had been admitted earlier that day.

Irene was born October 20, 1932 in Trout Creek, MI, the daughter of the late Alex and Tyyne (Laturi) Besonen, and was a graduate of the Trout Creek High School, Class of 1950.  Irene moved to Waukegan, IL and worked at Abbott Labs. She married Ray Kauppila on June 21, 1952 in Trout Creek. They lived in Hammond, IN, Marquette and Hancock prior to Ann Arbor for Ray's further education and finally back to Hancock.  Irene worked as a Supervisor at Cypress Manor Nursing Home in Hancock throughout the 1970's.  Irene and Ray finally retired to Marquette in 1988.  She was a member of the Independent Apostolic Lutheran Church in Negaunee.

Survivors include her husband of the past 65 years, Ray Kauppila of Marquette, 4 children – son Rick (Pam) Kauppila of Negaunee, and daughters – Susan (Gregory) Bovid of Midland, MI, Audrey (William) Johnson of Milwaukee, WI, and Kandace (Tim) Reckinger of Hartland, WI, brother Robert (Rachel) Besonen of Ewen, 9 grandchildren – Adam (Britta) Kauppila, Janel Kauppila, Christopher (Karen) Bovid, Nicholas (Kristen) Bovid, Stanley (Jami) Bovid, Elena Davis, Jennifer (Jonathan) Walter, Lauren Reckinger and Aaron Reckinger, 9 great grandchildren, numerous nieces, nephews and a host of brothers and sisters in faith.  She was preceded in death by her parents, brother Edwin Besonen and sister Nancy Raczynski.

The family will greet relatives and friends at the Independent Apostolic Lutheran Church, Co Rd 492, Negaunee, from 6 – 9 pm on Friday Sept. 29, 2017 and again from 10:30 – 12:30 on Saturday Sept 30, 2017.  Funeral Services will follow at 12:30 PM on Saturday at the church with Mike Peterson to officiate.  A luncheon will follow at the church.  Interment will take place at Noon on Sunday at the Trout Creek Cemetery.

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