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Miriam Elizabeth Ruonavaara, 95, a resident of Calumet, peacefully passed away Tuesday, March 3, 2026, at her home surrounded by her family.
Miriam (Mimi) was born on January 22, 1931, in Middleborough, Massachusetts, the youngest child of Anna (Rimpila) and Leander Fellman. She moved to Nottingham, New Hampshire at an early age and attended school at Nottingham and Raymond High Schools, graduating in 1949. Mimi attended the Elliot Hospital School of Nursing in Manchester, New Hampshire and graduated in 1952. After working as a surgical service nurse for several years, she joined the United States Air Force Nurse Corp and served as a First Lieutenant at the Gunter Air Force base in Montgomery, Alabama. She later transferred to Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio, Texas and also worked on call at Baptist Hospital in San Antonio when she was available. While in San Antonio, Mimi attended Trinity University, working towards obtaining her Bachelor of Science degree.
Upon discharge from the Air Force, Mimi was employed by the Veteran’s Hospital in New Haven, Connecticut, later transferring to the Veteran’s Hospital in Allen Park, Michigan. She attended Wayne State University in Detroit, Michigan, earning more credits for her degree. Even though she was an Air Force nurse, her love for the Marines was pronounced when her beloved brother, Bertil, was killed in action on Iwo Jima while serving his country.
On September 14, 1957, Mimi was united in marriage to Nathan Edwin Ruonavaara by Reverend Paul Heideman at her beloved family farm in Nottingham, New Hampshire. Shortly thereafter, the couple settled in Laurium, Michigan, moving to their current home on Lake Linden Hill approximately 18 years later.
Mimi was employed at Calumet Public Hospital as a Registered Nurse and also performed private nursing duties, volunteered as a hospice nurse, and yet again, continued with her extended education by taking nutritional courses at Northern Michigan University in Marquette, Michigan. She used her extensive knowledge and passion for health to run a nutrition business out of her home for over 40 years, which she loved doing. She thoroughly enjoyed helping people and would often hand-deliver nutritional products to her customers with a smile. Mimi was also an avid reader, encouraging her children and others to read, stating “A reader is a leader!”
Summers were spent at the family “camp” at Hermit’s Cove where Mimi took walks on the beach, hunted for agates with the kids, and spent many hours fishing with Nathan on Lake Superior. She taught her kids how to ski at Swedetown Hill and skate at the old Laurium ice rink. She enjoyed traveling and would often take her children on trips to visit national landmarks and various zoos across the country. One special place to visit was the Fellmanfamily farm in Nottingham. She would travel east every summer to visit her sisters and the graves of her parents and brothers, leaving an American flag on their gravestones.
Mimi loved to make donuts, Swedish pulla, jams from berries picked from Nathan’s raspberry and thimbleberry patches, and applesauce from apple trees grown on the property. She gave her treats to family friends and customers as gifts. She also loved garage sales, antiques, flowers, and spending as much time with her children as she could. She had such a special bond with each of them and often said she was the luckiest mother in the world. She was strong in her faith and provided spiritual guidance to them and her grandchildren.
Mimi is survived by nine children: Linda Ruonavaara of Calumet, Timothy Ruonavaara of Calumet, Thomas (Judith) Ruonavaara of Calumet, Rebecca Braun of Calumet, Peter Ruonavaara of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Mary (Todd) Ellis of New Hope, Minnesota, Nancy (Marcus) Ingram of Garden City, Michigan, Victoria (Bryan) Loveland of Wausau, Wisconsin, Nathan (Mary) Ruonavaara of Calumet, son-in-law Michael Jukuri of Laurium, 31 grandchildren and 27 great grandchildren. She is preceded in death by her husband Nathan, daughters Carol (infant) and Judith Jukuri, parents, Leander and Anna Fellman, siblings Bengt Fellman, Bertil Fellman, Lars Fellman, Martha Green, and Helen Molyneaux.
Visitation to be held from 5-8 pm on Thursday, March 5, 2026, at Memorial Chapel Funeral & Cremation Service – Hancock Chapel. The funeral service will be held on Friday, March 6, 2026, at 11 am with visitation one hour prior to the service at the Tapiola Apostolic Lutheran Church, Herb Jarvi officiating. Luncheon to follow at the church immediately after the service
To view Miriam’s obituary or to send condolences to the family please visit www.Memorialchapel.net
The Memorial Chapel Funeral And Cremation Service – Hancock Chapel is assisting the family with the arangements.
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