Robert William Ruonavaara, 101, of Kalispell, Montana passed away in the
early hours on January 13, 2018.
Robert was born on August 3, 1916 in Jacobsville, Michigan, a son of the
late Nils and Hilda (Muonio) Ruonavaara. He lived in Jacobsville until his
father died in 1920. Then his mother moved the family to Hancock, Michigan.
He lived in Hancock until August 2004 when he moved to Kalispell, Montana.
Robert attended the Hancock Schools until the eleventh grade.
Robert was a veteran, having served in the U.S. Army Air Corp from February
11, 1942 til December 28, 1945 during WWII.
On January 23, 1943, he was united in marriage to the former Anna Irene
Halberg, she preceded him in death on December 20, 1975. Later Robert
married Janet Arline Jouppe on May 12, 1979 in Calumet, Michigan, she
preceded him in death on October 28, 1989.
Robert worked at the Vienna Bakery in Calumet, and was a carpenter most of
his life.
Robert was a lifelong member of the Old Apostolic Lutheran Church.
Preceding him in death are his wives, his parents, his brother Walter
(Arnold) Ruonavaara, his sisters Flora Hendrickson and Elma Eloranta, two
children Ethel Ritola and Robert Ruonavaara, two grandchildren Tonya Levanen
and Evan Wisti and one great grandchild Lineesa Abernathy.
Surviving are his children Elaine(Gunnar) Ek of Battle Ground, WA,
Nils(Christine) Ruonavaara of Atlantic Mine, MI, Annette(Steve) Levanen of
Hancock, MI, Anita(Dennis) Jouppe of Hancock, MI, Linda(John) Wisti of
Lonepine, MT, Lillian(Daniel) Macfarlane of Kalispell, MT, Juanita(Scott)
Reddig of Kalispell, MT, Marie Ruonavaara of Kalispell, MT and David(Lacey)
Ruonavaara of Woodland, WA; One son in law Irvin Ritola of Yacolt, WA; one
daughter in law Ingrid Milbrandt of Kalispell, MT; 91 grandchildren, many
great and great-great grandchildren, nieces, nephews and a host of Christian
friends.
A visitation will be held from 6-8 PM on Tuesday January 16, 2018 at the Old
Apostolic Lutheran Church in Lakeside. Funeral services will be held at 1 PM
Wednesday January 17, 2018 at the Old Apostolic Lutheran Church in Lakeside
with a viewing 1 hour prior to service. Burial will take place in the spring
at the Lakeview Cemetery in Calumet, Michigan. Friends are encouraged to
visit our website at www.buffalohillfh.com to leave notes of condolences for
the family. Buffalo Hill Funeral Home and Crematory caring for the family.