Obituary of Irene Marie Kamunen

Irene Marie Kamunen of Cloquet died Wednesday, March 3, 2021 in Sunnyside Health Care Center at the astounding age of 99. She was born November 15, 1921 in Cloquet to Octave and Beda Caron. Irene graduated from Cloquet High School in 1939. Soon after, she moved to Detroit, Michigan. Before long, her love, Eino "Pinky" Kamunen, followed her there and they were married August 17, 1940. They settled back in Cloquet in the late 40s. Irene was a proud homemaker and raised her children at home for many years before taking a job with Johnson Company in Downtown Cloquet in the 70s. Irene enjoyed cooking and baking, word jumbles, spending time at the cabin, cross-stitch, sewing, knitting, quilting, playing Yahtzee, and spending time with her family. She loved gardening and passed her "green-thumb" to her children and grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her parents; husband; children, Nelson "Jay", Joel, and Lisa; grandson, Grant Kamunen; and brothers, Patrick "Sonny" Nelson and Dennis Rydell. Irene was always a strong matriarch to her family and will be deeply missed by her daughter, Susan (Thomas) Flynn of Cloquet; granddaughters, Kristen Kamunen and Machele Flynn, both of Cloquet and Lisa Wise of Camarillo, CA; great granddaughter, Jennifer (Alec) Fagre-Golya; great grandson, Justin (Krystle) Wise; a great great grandson, Nelson; two great great granddaughters, Cheyanne and Addison; siblings, Doris Strand of Cloquet, Carla (Grant) Taylor of Louisville, KY and David "Bud" Rydell of Lapeer, MI; and many more cousins and friends whose lives she graced for many years. A graveside service will be held on Wednesday, June 30, 2021 at 12:00 Noon in Maple Grove Cemetery in Cloquet. A luncheon will follow in the Fireside Room of Atkins Northland Funeral Home. Arrangements entrusted to Atkins-Northland Funeral Home, 801 14th Street, Cloquet. Cards may be sent to the family c/o Atkins-Northland Funeral Home. To leave an online tribute, see www.atkinsnorthlandfuneralhome.com.