Obituary of Avis Jane Raisanen

Avis Jane Raisanen, 79 of Cloquet died Sunday, December 30, 2001 in St. Mary's Medical Center in Duluth. She was born August 2, 1922 in Menominee, Wisconsin to Edwin and Mabel (Price) Grossklaus. Her family moved to Cloquet when she was a young girl. She also lived in Esko and Sturgeon Lake. Avis graduated from the Cloquet High School in 1940. She married William Raisanen on February 27, 1943. She was active in various ministries at Zion Lutheran Church in Cloquet and was a lifetime member of the Esko PTA, receiving state honors for her service. Avis was a member of Friends of the Library and served as a City of Cloquet election judge through the years. She especially enjoyed her friends at the coffee clutches, knitting, quilting, reading, gardening and painting. The family would like to express their heartfelt thanks to Pastor Dennis Paulson of Zion Lutheran Church, the staff at St. Mary's Duluth Clinic Hospice and Palliative Care and longtime friend and physician, Dr. Robert Niedringhaus. Avis was preceded in death by her parents and a grandson, Jason Raisanen. She is survived by her husband, William; children, Willy (Sandra) of Barnum, Jim (Karen) of Malmo, Rick (Sharon) of Lino Lakes, Mary (Dale) Kantola of Cloquet and Beth (Paul) Thompson of Shoreview; her sister, Ardith Juntunen of Cloquet; 9 grandchildren and 2 great grandchildren. A memorial service was held on Wednesday, January 2, 2002 in Zion Lutheran Church, Cloquet. Memorials are preferred to Zion Lutheran Church. Arrangements entrusted to Northland Funeral Home, 801 14th St. in Cloquet.