Carol (Kauppila) Usitalo

Carol was born in Copper City on August 16, 1935, to Waino and Anna Kauppila. Carol graduated from Calumet High School and was united in marriage to Gordon Usitalo. They celebrated 61 wonderful years of marriage before Gordy’s passing in 2013.

Carol was a stay-at-home mother, homemaker, and a woman of many talents. She was an excellent cook and baker, plus she sewed, knitted, crocheted, weaved baskets, painted, quilted, created stained glass, and played the piano. When her children were raised, she worked at Quality Super Valu, the family business. Carol was an active member of Faith Lutheran Church for many years and had a deep and abiding faith in God and the Lord Jesus Christ.

Besides her husband, she was preceded in death by her parents; brothers and sisters Paul, Walter, Melvin, Ted, Kenneth, Donald, Kathleen, Mildred, Florence, and Millie; and grandson Aaron LeRoy.

Surviving are her children, Michael (Judy) Usitalo, Christine Chapman, and Gary (Dennece) Usitalo; six grandchildren, Kirsti (Carl) Arko, Holly (Ian) Hodges, Briana (Nate) Paul, Jilaine LeRoy, Taylor (Brad) Usitalo, and Lindsey (Cameron) Goude; fourteen great-grandchildren, Brynn, Connor, and Mats Arko; Ryder and Cali Hodges; Jace, Miira, Jonah and Eliza Paul; Brighton and Remmi LeRoy; Jackson, Malcolm and Gianna Goude; one sister Phyllis (George) Tarnowski; sisters-in-law, Barbara (Don) Kauppila and Ardene (Kenneth) Kauppila; along with numerous nieces, nephews, and cousins.

Funeral services and visitation will be held on Saturday, November 23 at the Faith Lutheran Church in Calumet. The funeral will be at 12:00 (noon) and visitation will take place from 10:00-12:00. A luncheon will follow the service. Burial will take place in the Lake View Cemetery in Calumet.

In lieu of other expressions of sympathy, the family suggests a memorial be given to the Faith Lutheran Church.

The family wishes to thank the caring staff of Garden View for their compassion and the great joy they brought to Carol.

She died as she lived, quiet and calm on the outside but with the sweetest heart for those she loved. That love was deeply felt by all despite being a woman of few words, even as she bid farewell, “Okay, bye.”