Obituary: Florence J. Garnell

 As received from the Memorial Chapel & Plowe Funeral Homes:

Florence J. Garnell, a former resident of Birmingham, MI, passed away Monday, March 1, 2021, at the Franklin House of Portage Pointe in Hancock where she had been a resident patient for the past eight years.

Florence was born on July 7, 1926 in Houghton Canal, a daughter of Alex and Hannah Lempi (Juntunen) Garnell. She attended the Canal and Redridge Schools and graduated from Houghton High School in 1944. 

At the age of 18, she left Houghton to make her home in the Detroit area, where she was employed by Detroit Edison as an executive secretary for 41 years. In 2012, she relocated to the Copper Country to be near family. She was a lifelong member of the Old Apostolic Lutheran Church. 

Florence loved to spend time with friends and relatives. She traveled to many countries but especially enjoyed returning home to the Copper Country to see family and her favorite places, including the Garnell Farm and Lake Superior. She was well known for her “quick stop” visits so she could see as many people as possible in one trip. 

Florence was beloved by her 27 nieces and nephews. She was generous with her time, encouraging in conversation and always up for an adventure. 

Florence was preceded in death by her parents, an infant brother Walfred; brothers Richard and Rudy; sisters Helmi Koski, Edna Lampinen, Nancy Korpela; nieces (Edna’s daughters) Sandra Armstrong, Amy Bourland and JoAnn (Ek) Lipe, and one nephew, (Richard’s son) William Garnell.

She is survived by the children of Helmi and Carl Koski: Paul, John, Dave, Kathy, Tom, Mary Fowler, Ruth Dow; the children of Edna and Wilbert Lampinen: David, Tony, Kim, Gail Beers, Anne Coponen; the children of Richard and Irene Garnell: Howard, Louis, Jay, Susie Tuomi; the children of Nancy and Orval Korpela: Clark, Carol, Cleo Ruonavaara, Karen Hext, Loret Roberts, Karla Aho, Tonia Truesdell; her cousin Deric Garnell, numerous Juntunen cousins, and Christian friends.

A funeral service will be held on Saturday, March 6, 2021 at 1pm at the Old Apostolic Lutheran Church in Hancock with Ronald Jouppe to officiate. 

Friends may call on Saturday, March 6, 2021 from 11am to the time of the service at the Old Apostolic Lutheran Church in Hancock. 

Spring burial will be in the Oskar Cemetery. 

Florence’s family would like to extend heartfelt thanks to the staff of Franklin House/Portage Pointe for their care and concern for Florence during her long stay with them, and especially during this past year during visitor restrictions.

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

The Memorial Chapel & Plowe Funeral Homes of Hancock have been assisting the family with the arrangements