Obituaries

June Ann (Smith) Uponen, age 87, of Rudyard, Michigan, died on September 19, 2024, at MyMichigan Medical Center Sault. She was born on May 6, 1937, in Pickford, Michigan, to George and Nellie (Nolan) Smith.

June was born and raised in Pickford on her family’s farm. After school, she worked on her family’s farm. She married Reino Uponen on May 14, 1955, and the two settled in Rudyard where they started their family. June went to work at the Rudyard Co-op once her children were grown and worked there for forty years.

June was a member of the Rudyard 4909 VFW Auxiliary in.

June enjoyed watching football, as well as the Redwings. She enjoyed going snowmobiling and camping.

June is survived by her daughter, Debora (Bob) Churchill; son, Neil Uponen; grandchildren, Wayne (Denise) Uponen, Ben (Amanda) Churchill, Hilary Uponen, Nicholas (Rebekah) Churchill, and Ryan (Brandy) Uponen; and great-grandchildren, Kaiden Uponen, Lilly Uponen, Mason Uponen, and Hailey Uponen.

June was preceded in death by her husband, Reino; parents, George and Nellie; and siblings, Clifford Smith, Dale Smith, Vern Smith, Ruby MacDonald, Maxine Fenner, and Jerry Smith.

A Visitation will be held on Wednesday, October 2, 2024, from 1:00 PM – 3:00 PM at Family Life Funeral Homes – Pickford, 24549 S. M-129 Pickford, MI 49774. The Funeral Service will follow immediately at 3:00 PM.

Final resting place will be North Rudyard Cemetery, in Rudyard, Michigan.