Obituary: Lois Irene Rintala

As received from the Antila Funeral Home:

Lois Irene Rintala, 84 of Chassell, passed away peacefully on Tuesday, December 26, 2017, at the Houghton County Medical Care Facility surrounded by her loving family. She was born July 26, 1933, in Hancock to Waino and Irene (Alaniva) Junttonen. She grew up in Painesdale and graduated from Jeffers High School. Lois took classes at Suomi College and the Inter-Lutheran Theological Seminary. She married Wester Rintala in Hancock, Mich. on September 9, 1950.

Lois was a loving wife, mother, and grandmother, known affectionately as the “Matriarch” of her family. Nothing was more important to Lois than her faith in Jesus Christ. She was a faithful prayer warrior. She was the organist and a Sunday School teacher for many years at the Apostolic Lutheran Church in Painesdale. She volunteered at local nursing homes, holding Bible Studies with the residents.

Lois enjoyed her flower gardens, painting, reading the Bible, playing the organ, and hosting guests at her beloved cottage on Misery Bay.

Lois was preceded in death by her parents; her step-father, Nester Harju; sister, Violet Kuusisto; brothers, Earl and Calvin Junttonen; brothers-in-law, Waino Kuusisto and Bruce Smith; and sister-in-law, Kathy Junttonen.

Lois is survived by her husband of 67 years, Wester; her children: Gloria (Edward, Sr.) Chestolowski of Wrightstown, Wisconsin, Gordon (Holly) Rintala of Chassell, Joann (James) Niemerg of Rockford, Illinois; brother: Vernon (Donna) Harju of Lowell, Michigan; sisters: Laurian (Ronald) Osantowski of Pleasant Prairie, Wisconsin and Neldine Smith of West Bend, Wisconsin; 8 grandchildren: Edward Jr. (Jennifer) Chestolowski, Kenneth (Melissa) Chestolowski, Ryan (Jennie) Rintala, Brett Rintala, Derek Rintala, Jock (Vanessa) Hyland, Jennifer Hyland (Jeremy Garrett), and Jonathan Niemerg; two sisters-in-law, Nora Pantano of Atlantic Mine and Signe Bakkila of Chassell; numerous great-grandchildren, beloved nieces, nephews, and friends.

The family would like to thank Joan Suits, FNP, and the staff of the Houghton County Medical Care Facility for their dedicated, gracious, and compassionate care of Lois.

Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. on Saturday, December 30, 2017, at Range Apostolic Lutheran Church in South Range, with Pastor Jay Weidner to officiate. Visitation will be from 10 a.m. until the time of service on Saturday in the church. A time of lunch and fellowship will follow in the church fellowship hall. Spring burial will be in Mountain View Cemetery in South Range. Arrangements are being handled by the Jukuri-Antila Funeral Home of Hancock, Antila Funeral Service, Inc.

Online condolences may be expressed to the family at antilafuneral.com.