106 West Main Street
P.O. Box 146
NEGAUNEE, MI 49866
Phone: 906-475-4631
Fax: 906-475-5561
CLARICE PYNNONEN
In Memory of
CLARICE L.
PYNNONEN (Larson)
1926 - 2018
Memorial Candle Tribute From
Koskey Funeral Home Inc.
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Obituary for CLARICE L. PYNNONEN (Larson)

CLARICE L.  PYNNONEN (Larson)
Clarice L. Pynnonen, 92, formerly of Baldwin Avenue, passed away peacefully on Thursday, July 5, 2018 at Teal Lake Senior Living Community.
Clarice was born April 26, 1926 in Ishpeming to Verner and Annie (Dobson) Larson and graduated from Ishpeming High School, Class of 1944. Clarice operated “Clarice’s Curls” beauty salon for several years before becoming a telephone operator for Michigan Bell. She was also a homemaker, but her lifelong passion was with babies. She started taking foster babies in the early 1970s and continued to do so, along with her husband Leino, for over 40 years. She was very proud of her foster parenting and would often tell people she had over 100 babies. We think it was 112, including her own 3 sons. For many years, they continued to receive Christmas Cards, graduation announcements and even wedding invitations from these “babies” and their families.
For many years, Clarice would be found in the morning in the company of friends having coffee at the Beef-a-Roo. She was a proud, but usually silent, sponsor of Scholarships to Ishpeming students through the Ishpeming Community Foundation. Clarice was a member of St. John’s Episcopal Church, Ishpeming Order of the Eastern Star for over 50 years and the Negaunee Women’s Club. In her early years, she held several leadership roles for both Eastern Star and the local PTA. Family was extremely important to her and she enjoyed watching her children and grandchildren in a wide variety of endeavors. She was married to Leino Pynnonen for over 65 years, until his death in 2016.
Surviving are 3 sons: Bruce (Penny) Pynnonen of Midland, Scott (Deanne) of L’Anse and Mark (Lenette) of Negaunee; 7 grandchildren: Eric of Chicago, Shaun (Meghan) of Grand Rapids, Katie of Phoenix, Curt of Midland, David (Heather) of Champion, Beth of Grand Rapids, and Jason of Marquette; 3 great-grandchildren, Grady and Mya of Grand Rapids and Brooks of Champion; a brother, Doug Larson formerly of Ishpeming; and numerous nieces, nephews and cousins.
The rite of committal will be held at 6 pm on Monday, July 9th at Koskey Funeral Home in Negaunee, with Rev. Jack Lenten officiating. Interment will be in the Ishpeming Cemetery. The family will greet relatives and friends from 4 p.m. until the time of the committal service at 6 p.m. at the funeral home on Monday and also at a reception immediately following services at the St. John’s Episcopal Church fellowship hall. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be directed to the Ishpeming Community Foundation, PO Box 37, Marquette, MI 49855

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