Obituary: Elmer R. Liimatta

As received from Memorial Chapel Funeral and Cremation Service:

UPDATE: A Celebration of the lives of Rev. Elmer Liimatta who passed away March 31, 2023, and his wife Ruth Liimatta who passed away March 18, 2023, and their son Steven Liimatta, who passed away January 28, 2022, will be held 11:00 am Friday, June 23, 2023, at Zion Lutheran Church of Hancock with Pastors Jesse Aho and Bruce Bergstedt to officiate.

Elmer Russell Liimatta was born November 14, 1931 in St. Mary’s Location, Franklin Township, Houghton County, Michigan near the Calumet Airport. He passed away quietly in his sleep March 31, 2023 as a resident in Canal View—Houghton County Medical Care Facility.  This was 13 days after his wife, Ruth Liimatta, passed on to Heaven. Elmer was preceded in death by his loving parents, brother Wesley, brother Wilho Ronald, and sister Dorothy.  Elmer was united in marriage to Ruth Esther Tapio December 18, 1954 Hancock, Michigan. They have five sons, Daniel, Jeffrey, Steven (Jake; deceased), Kevin & (Kathy), and Mark. Elmer also has one sister, Betty Ann Schmehl, two nieces, Jennifer (deceased) and Kathy, and two nephews, Robert and Michael. Elmer is also survived by numerous other cousins and
their family members on the “Liimatta” side.

His parents were Francis Ainard and Mamie E. (Peterson) Liimatta. The family moved to Princess Point along the South Portage Canal in 1936 and he started school there.  He attended school in Boston Location, South Range, and Baraga.  In those early years his family operated a small logging camp where the family lived with their workers together in a small log home they built on the property they were logging.  The family moved to Detroit in September of 1942 in search of work in the auto industry and
settled in Hazel Park, Michigan in 1943.  Elmer graduated from Hazel Park High School in June 1951. He went on to serve in the US Army 1952-54 as Tank Mechanic and Motor Sergeant with fifteen months during the War overseas in Korea.  He served in the 40th Infantry Division, 160th Regiment, Tank Company, and was promoted from private to sergeant E-5, November 1953. 

Ruth was united in marriage to Elmer December 19, 1954, in Hancock, Michigan by Rev. Andrew Mickelsen at the Franklin Apostolic Lutheran Church.  Elmer studied and graduated from Suomi (Finlandia) College and the young couple moved to Detroit in 1956 to begin working as the Pastor and wife for the Detroit Apostolic Lutheran Church.  The Church moved to Southfield in 1962 where Ruth and Elmer would serve the church until retiring in August 1995.  Elmer studied further in life at Andrews University and the Detroit Bible Institute.  He received a Bachelor of Religious Education from the merged Detroit Bible College and William Tyndale College. He later received a Masters Degree in guidance & counseling from Eastern Michigan University, and a PhD of Ministry from The Ecumenical Theological Seminary.  Dad really valued education and encouraged everyone to continue learning throughout their life.

Elmer served as a Pastor of the Detroit and then Southfield Lutheran Church for forty years.  He was one of four founding members and teachers of the Independent Apostolic Lutheran Seminary in 1964, Plymouth, Minnesota, and now renamed the Inter-Lutheran Seminary, it is located in Hancock, Michigan. Elmer was also the founding member and Chairman of the Finnish Center Association Senior Citizens Housing which developed the retirement community of Tapiola Village in Farmington Hills, Michigan. 

Elmer was very active in working with US Veterans and their dependents through the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW). He served as Chaplain Post 6507 Chassell, Michigan, District 15 Chaplain, State of Michigan Chaplain 2008 — 2011, and the VFW National Chaplain 2010-2011. In 2010 he was also selected as UP Veteran of the Year and was recognized as such by the Michigan Governor. Elmer really enjoyed serving the veterans of Copper Country in whatever counseling, consoling, or befriending role he could give.

Elmer lived a life of service as Army Sergeant, Pastor, Chairman of FCA Senior Citizens Housing, Southfield Police Chaplain, Board Member and Teacher at Inter-Lutheran Seminary, State of Michigan VFW Chaplain, and National VFW Chaplain.  The family would like to thank the Southfield Apostolic Church and the Alston, Atlantic Mine, Bruce Crossing, and Zion Lutheran Apostolic Church congregations for allowing dad and mom to serve them periodically in the last 25 years.  The family would also like to thank the staff at UP Home Health & Hospice and the staff at Canal View—Houghton County Medical Care Facility for their care and support.  In lieu of flowers or gifts, the family would encourage donations to Zion Lutheran Church—Camp Lahti, in Hancock, Michigan, the Inter-Lutheran Theological Seminary in Hancock, Michigan, or the Copper Country Habitat for Humanity, also in Hancock.  Dad’s life was spent serving “His Heavenly Father”, and he loved every minute of it.

A combined “Celebration of Life” Service for Elmer, Ruth, and brother Steve (Jake) is planned for Friday June 23, 2023 at 11:00 am at Zion Lutheran Church in Hancock, Michigan.

Elmer would say that everyone is born with a light–we are all here in order to glorify God, and enjoy Him forever.

To view Elmer’s obituary or to send condolences to the family please visit www.memorialchapel.net.

The Memorial Chapel Funeral & Cremation Service – Chassell Chapel has been assisting the family with the arrangements.