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Richard Arnold Salonen, age 85, a resident of Laurium, Michigan passed on to his heavenly home on July 18, 2025 at Aspirus Keweenaw Hospital due to a Myasthenia Gravis crisis; MG had been in remission for eleven years.
He was born at the Memorial Hospital in Laurium, MI on September 12, 1939 to Adele Irene (Ohman) Salonen and Sulo Richard Salonen. He attended Calumet Public Schools and graduated with the Class of 1957. He served six years with the U.S. Army Reserves and received an Honorable Discharge.
On June 14, 1958, he married Patricia E Rouse (daughter of Bernard R Rouse and Eleanor M (Picard) Rouse of Calumet) and they recently celebrated their 67th wedding anniversary.
He began his career with Gelman Instrument Company in Chelsea, MI before returning to finish his degree at Michigan Technological University where he was a 1965 Mechanical Engineering graduate and went on to employment with Saginaw Steering Gear, a division of General Motors in Saginaw, Michigan. After 12 years he accepted a position as a Sales Engineer with Suburban Tool Sales of Detroit covering the state of Michigan. In 1983 he became General Manager of Subco in Traverse City, MI and in 1988 he accepted a position as Sales Engineer for Jenkins Machine & Tool of Illinois opening up new territory in the state of WI. Five years later, he became the owner of Jenkins Machine & Tool where he and Pat worked together for 23 years running and leading that business.
Richard and Pat retired in 2013 and happily returned to their hometown to grow old together in their beloved Copper Country. He was an avid golfer for most of his life, played bridge and pinochle, geochached every summer with his children, and cross country skied every winter at the Swedetown Trails. He also enjoyed Codeword puzzles, Suduko, and became an avid reader.
He is survived by his wife, Pat, and their four children: Deborah (Paul) Muckerheide of Waukesha, WI, Vicki (Drew) Isola of Allegan, MI, Richard Salonen of Farmington, AR, and of Douglas Salonen of West Allis, WI and his nine grandchildren: Nick, Andrew, Alan, Julie, Erin, Derek, Alexandra, Rebekah and Rachel as well as his seven great grandchildren: Jude, Sam, Luke, Aubrey, Braedyn, and twins Millie and Ruby. Other survivors include a brother Glen (Linda) of Traverse City, MI, a sister-in-law Bev (Rouse) Lewis (Harley) of Bete Grese, MI and several nieces and nephews.
The family wishes to extend our deepest gratitude for the loving care and kindnesses shown to Richard and all of us by the doctors and nursing staff of Aspirus Keweenaw Hospital – it meant so much to all of us at that time. Ryan Funeral Home is assisting the family.
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