Viola E. Heikkinen
October 9, 1925 — May 23, 2008
Viola E. Heikkinen, age 82 of Baraga passed away Friday, May 23, 2008 at Baraga County Memorial Hospital Skilled Nursing Unit after a lengthy illness.
Viola was born October 9, 1925 in Alston, Michigan, daughter of Wallerous and Amelia (Hakala) Kero. She married Ronald W. Heikkinen on May 4, 1957 in Nisula, Michigan and he preceded her in death on April 12, 1984.
Viola lived in Baraga for the last twelve years and prior to that she lived in the Nisula/Alston area for most of her life. Viola has been a resident of the Skilled Nursing Unit for the past few years. Viola was active in the United States Army and is a veteran of World War II. Viola enjoyed gardening, oil painting, writing poetry, playing bingo, and was a loyal Tiger fan. She was a member of Holy Cross Lutheran Church. Viola was a loving and generous mother and grandmother.
Viola is survived by one son, Richard (Sue) McKay of Mass City, Michigan, three daughters, Marcia Velmer of Baraga, Michigan, Bonnie (Kenneth) Korttila of Oxford, Michigan, Diane (Timothy) Mayo of Baraga, Michigan, daughter-in-law, Wanda McKay and Donna Heikkien, and six sisters, Edna Rautiola of Milford, Michigan, Ruth (Robert) Rabbitt of Battle Creek, Michigan, Agnes Kantola of Howell, Michigan, Alice (Ray) Koski of Westland, Michigan, and Lois Kero of Canton, Michigan, one brother, William Kero of Laurium, Michigan and seventeen grandchildren, Laurie Teigen and Richard McKay, Jr., Justin McKay, Lisa Bledsoe, Jessica Dompier, Bonita Neveau, Lawrence and Joseph Velmer, Irene Roy, Beth Lucia, Kimberly Hannish, Rhonda, Charles, and Tara Heikkinen and Leah and Alexandria Mayo, twenty-eight great-grandchildren, and two great-great grandchildren.
Preceded her in death are three sons, Kenneth (Mike) McKay, William McKay, Ronald I. Heikkinen, three brothers, Byrnolf, Arthur, and Ralph Kero, and two sisters, Lillian and Elvie.
Funeral services for Viola will be held on Wednesday, May 28, 2008 at 11:00 a.m. at the Holy Cross Lutheran Church in Baraga, Michigan and visitation will be held one hour prior to service. Rev. Ted Koehl will officiate. Burial will take place at the Baraga Cemetery, Baraga, Michigan. The Jacobson Funeral Home of L'Anse is assisting the family.