Jeanne Marie Wiitanen
(November 9, 1946 - June 7, 2008)
 

Jeanne Marie Wiitanen, age 61, of N6806 Forest Lake Road, died peacefully at her home while surrounded by her family and under the care of North Woods Hospice on Saturday morning, June 7, 2008. She was born in Marquette on November 9, 1946 to George and Annie (Kamppinen) Hallstrom. Jeanne graduated from Eben High School in 1964 and then from Northern Michigan University with her Bachelor’s Degree in Elementary Education. Jeanne married Ronald L. Wiitanen on May 17, 1969. She taught in Brimley, Eben, Trenary and Superior Central before retiring in 1998. Jeanne truly took pleasure in teaching children to read. She was a member of the Old Apostolic Lutheran Church and enjoyed sewing, her family – especially her grandchildren - traveling, spending time at the lake, and decorating and designing her home.

Jeanne is survived by her husband of over thirty-nine years – Ron of AuTrain; her children – Erik of Battle Ground, WA, Jason (Laura) of Painesdale, MI, and Heidi of Houghton, MI; grandchildren – Davin, Kent, Riley, Della, and Eliza Jean; siblings – Violet (Wilbert) Maki of Chatham, Helen (John) Uskoski of La Center, WA, Dick (Alice) Hallstrom of Dollar Bay, Ken (Elizabeth) Hallstrom of Chatham, Bill (Tina) Hallstrom of Kalispell, MT, and Mary Jane (John) Whitmarsh of Chatham; and numerous aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, and cousins. Jeanne was preceded in death by her parents.

Visitation will be held at the Bowerman Funeral Home in Munising on Monday evening from 5:00 until 8:00 p.m. and also at the church on Tuesday from 11:00 a.m. until 12:00 noon. Ronald Jouppe will officiate Jeanne’s funeral on Tuesday, June 10, 2008 at the Old Apostolic Lutheran Church in Chatham at 12:00 noon. Interment will be at the Pine Grove Cemetery in Chatham and she will be escorted by Erik and Jason Wiitanen, Dick, Ken, and Bill Hallstrom, Robert Wiitanen, John Uskoski, and Leo Erickson.

Submitted by Char Livermore