Mary K. (Pirttima) Kuusisto

Mary Kathryn Kuusisto (nee Pirttima) was born April 3, 1931, in Atlantic Mine, Michigan, to Toivo and Elida (Jacobson) Pirttima. She was baptized and attended services at Our Savior’s Lutheran Church in Atlantic Mine. She recalls a Christian awakening at age 14 while attending Luther League Camp, teaching Vacation Bible School to children using Bible teachings and a program she developed herself. She attended and graduated with honors from Houghton High School in 1949. That fall, she enrolled at Suomi College, Hancock, Michigan, studying English Literature, graduating in May 1951. While at Suomi, she met and became engaged to Wayne Kuusisto. The couple were married September 29, 1951 at Our Savior’s Lutheran Church, Atlantic Mine. Wayne was ordained that same year, and together, they served Lutheran congregations for 28 years in Floodwood, MN, Astoria, OR, and Wakefield, MI. In 1953-54, the couple lived in Helsinki, Finland; Wayne studying theology at the University of Helsinki, and Mary learning to weave Finnish tapestries. Both were fluent in the Finnish language.

Mary served in many capacities in the congregations to which Wayne was called: Junior Luther League leader (25 years), singing alto in choirs, and Adult Bible Study leader. One of her favorite activities was directing the youth in decorating the Easter cross with flowers, done hours before a sunrise service! She initiated the LCW Mary Circle in Astoria for the Finnish-American women at Zion Lutheran. Mary also served her community in Wakefield, MI, as president of the city’s Women’s Club. In 1979, the family moved to Zephyrhills, FL, where Mary worked as a sales clerk at Cardland Hallmark Store for 13 years. In 2017, Mary moved to Clintonville, WI, to be near family, and was active at Christus Lutheran Church in Bible Studies and the Quilting group.

She is survived by her three daughters: Ann (Rev. Brian) Crocker, Clintonville; Amy (David) Ashby, Denton, TX; Mary Beth Kuusisto (Matthew Santos), London, England; by five grandchildren, Peter Ashby, Emily (Marc) Wadsworth, and Mark Ashby, and Claire & Luke Crocker; and by two great-grandchildren, Vera and Adeline Wadsworth.
She is preceded in death by her husband, Wayne, in 2009.

Mary’s service will be held at Christus Lutheran Church on Tuesday, April 21, at 11am, with visitation beginning at 10am. Interment will be beside her husband in Oakside Cemetery, Zephyrhills, FL. The family wishes to thank the staffs of Care Partners Assisted Living and ThedaCare Hospice for their kind care. The Eberhardt-Stevenson Funeral Home & Crematory of Clintonville is assisting with her arrangements. www.eberhardtstevenson.com