Janet Alice Marie (Saarberg) Suihkonen

            Janet Alice Marie Suihkonen (nee Saarberg), age 87 of Mountain Iron, died January 28, 2024 in the Cook Care Center. She was born February 1, 1936 in Aurora, MN, the daughter of Toivo “Jack” and Turna (Williams) Saarberg and was a 1954 graduate of Aurora-Hoyt Lakes high school and attended Virginia Junior College. Janet married Arnold W. Suihkonen on June 16, 1956 in St. Mark’s Lutheran Church in Palo. She was employed at Culbert  Realty and B Dalton Book Store. Janet was a former member of Messiah Lutheran Church in Mountain Iron where she has served as church secretary, and sang in the choir; a member of Gethsemane Evangelical Lutheran Church, the Book Club in Mountain Iron, Going to Pieces Quilters group, volunteered with the Girl Scouts for many years, and was an advisor with AFS. She enjoyed quilting, gardening, reading, camping, and square dancing. Janet and Arnold spent retirement winters touring the south in their RV.

            Janet is survived by children: Cheryl (Dave) Gillis, Jill (Tom) Aubin and Vernon (Cheryl) Suihkonen all of Mountain Iron; siblings: Diane (Mike) Palm and Timothy (Doris) Saarberg all of Palo; grandchildren: Nicole Zetwick, Brandi Zetwick, Colin (Bethany) Gillis, Andrea Aubin, and Kevin (Leslie) Aubin; great-grandchildren: Hailey, Natalie, Luke, Ethan, Jaden, Audrey, and Gemma; numerous nieces, nephews, extended family and friends.

            She was preceded in death by her parents and husband.

            Casket bearers will be Janet’s grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

            The funeral service will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Thursday, February 8, 2024 at Gethsemane Evangelical Lutheran Church in Virginia. Pastor Amy Janssen will officiate. Interment will take place in Greenwood Cemetery in Virginia.

             Memorials are preferred.

            Family services provided by Bauman-Cron, A Bauman Family Funeral Home in Virginia. To share condolences online, please visit: www.baumanfuneralhome.com