Ishpeming Twp. - Waino "Erky" A. Ruohomaki, age 89 of 1840 North Lake Dr. Ishpeming Twp, passed away Sunday, August 29, 2010 at his home while under the care of his family.


Waino was born March 30, 1921 in Gold Mine Lake Location, the son of the late Charles and Aini (Mantynen) Ruohomaki. The family then moved to North Lake Location where he spent many happy years on the family farm. Waino worked for the CCC (Civilian Conservation Corp.) and was a truck driver for Carpenter-Cook Grocery Supply Co. prior to joining the United States Army in January of 1943. He landed on Normandy Beach on D-Day, June 6, 1944. While in the European Theater, Waino was involved in the freeing of Bastogne at the "Battle of the Bulge." Following World War II, he finished his enlistment guarding Nazi war criminals during their war crime trials. Waino was very proud of his military service to his country.

Waino returned from Europe and finished a course in auto repair on a G.I. Bill, and did auto body work as a job and hobby for many years. He worked in Lansing for 6 years at the Oldsmobile plant prior to returning to Ishpeming. He then became employed at Cleveland Cliffs Iron Co. working underground at the Mather B and as a rotary drill operator at the Tilden Mine, retiring in 1985.


Waino was a member of the Hope Free Evangelical Lutheran Church, the Ishpeming VFW Post #4573 where he did KP duty, peeling potatoes for their pasty sales. He was also a retired member of the Ishpeming Twp. Volunteer Fire Dept. where he served for over 25 years.


He is survived by his wife of 64 years Helen (Hautamaki) Ruohomaki of Ishpeming, a son Roy (Susan) Ruohomaki of Iron Mountain, a daughter Louise (Charles) Levi of Negaunee, 3 grandchildren – Todd (Kerri) Ruohomaki, Lisa (Jason) Brown, and Jeremy (Jan) Levi, 8 great grandchildren – Brittney Brown, Jamin Outcalt, Janelle and Jakob Ruohomaki, Ilia, Jonah, Kieren and Jaina Levi, the sole surviving sister Vera Rose of Ishpeming, along with several nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents, and eleven of his brothers and sisters, icluding four older brothers – Walfred, Walter, Wilho and Wesley, four younger brothers Wallace, Wilhart, Wilbert and Hugo, along with two older sisters Vianna Johnson, and Wilma Oysti and a younger sister Violet Lupton.

A visitation will be held from 9:30-11:00am EST on Wednesday September 1, 2010 at the Hope Free Evangelical Lutheran Church in Ishpeming, with funeral services to follow at 11:00am with Rev. Micah Hjermstad officiating. Members of the Ishpeming VFW and the Vietnam Veterans of America, Chapter #380 will hold military honors following the services. Interment will take place at Northland Chapel Gardens in Negaunee Twp.


Pallbearers will be members of the Ishpeming Twp. Volunteer Fire Dept.