Ishpeming – Marian E. Laakso, age 85, of 2790 Co Rd 496, Ely Twp. (Greenwood Location), and most recently resided at the Marquette Co Medical Care Facility in Ishpeming, passed away on Monday August 31, 2015 at UP Health System Bell.

Marian was born March 27, 1930 in Ishpeming the daughter of Jacob and Anna (Lankela) Korpi. She was a graduate of the Ishpeming High School, Class of 1949, and received her associate degree in business from Northern Michigan University. Her working career began at Bell memorial Hospital where she worked as a clerk for a year. She moved on to be a rural route carrier for the U.S. Postal Service for 5 ½ years, then as a clerk at the 1st National Bank of Negaunee. Her main employment then can as a data clerk for the Cleveland Cliffs Iron Co. at the Empire Mine where she worked for 20 years retiring in 1994.

Marian was a member of the Independent Apostolic Lutheran Church of Negaunee. She enjoyed quilting and was a member of the Marquette Co. Quilters group, along with knitting and sewing items especially for her family. Marian loved her family and always supported her children, grandchildren and great grandchildrens sporting events. She also enjoyed picking berries, especially blueberries and strawberries, along with cooking and baking, which included her famous pasties, turkey stuffing and ice box rolls. Marian would relax by watching the birds come to her bird feeders.

Survivors include 3 children – James Laakso of Ishpeming, Jack (Mary Jo) Laakso of Gillette, WY and Janet (Randy) Poirier of Fond du Lac, WI; 8 grandchildren – James Jr (Kristen) Laakso, Haylee Gardner, Steven (Angie) Laakso, Eric (Cynthia) Laakso, Anna Laakso, Brian (Lindsey) Poirier, Jennifer (Russell) Meyers, and Justin (special friend Cassie Liscomb)Poirier; 16 great grandchildren -Saadiqah, Marquese, Cam'ron, Dylan, Kaleb, Dexter, Jackson, Lauren, McKinsey, Madeline, Dexter, Gavin, Elin, Marissa, Amelia & Carson; along with numerous cousins, nieces and nephews including Karen Marietti, and Shirley (Pat) Wealton, and a host of brothers and sisters in faith. She was preceded in death by her husband Robert Laakso in 2008, whom she had married on Oct. 29, 1949, 4 sisters – Eleanor, Lillian, Martha & Anna, and 5 brothers – Nestor, Anselym, Jacob, George & Lawrence.

The family will greet relatives and friends from 10:00am – 1:00pm on Friday, September 4, 2015 at the Independent Apostolic Lutheran Church, Co Rd 492, Negaunee, MI. Funeral services will follow at 1:00pm on Friday at the Independent Apostolic Lutheran Church with Chas Prusi to officiate. Interment will take place at the Ishpeming Cemetery.

Memorials may be directed to the Independent Apostolic Lutheran Church, Co Rd 492, Negaunee, MI 49866 in Marian's memory.

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

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