Obituaries

Roland ”Rollie” Arthur Lipponen, age 81, of Brimley Michigan went to be with our Lord and Savior on April 18, 2023 after battling COPD for several years. He was born on January 30th, 1942, to parents Friidolf Isaac and Margaret “Pearl” (Aslin) Lipponen where he grew up on the family farm.

Rollie was a member of the Laborer’s Union for over 50 years where he worked as a Pipe Layer and also put in underground gas lines. His local contributions included his work on the Soo Locks and the LSSU campus construction as recognized in a plaque found in the Cisler Center. Fellow coworkers often commented on how hard of a worker he was and were often impressed with his innovative thinking.

When Rollie wasn’t working, he could be found helping friends and family fix things such their furnaces, well pumps, electric boxes or using his own inventions to help out as he was known for his boring machine to dig underground water & electric lines. Similar to this he designed and built his own home for his family, and it was the home he resided in until the end of his life.

In his younger years he enjoyed hunting, fishing, dancing (especially the Polka) and karaoke. Johnny Cash, Hank Williams and George Jones were some of his favorites and could often be heard playing in the background while he was tinkering on projects in the house or the garage. He also enjoyed playing card games such as cribbage and black jack, but most of all he loved spending time with his family and friends.

Rollie is survived by his children Roland James Lipponen (Karen), Terri-Lynne LaPointe, Julie Lipponen and Jenny (Tim) Pierce. His grandchildren including Nathan Anderson, Bruce LaPointe Jr., Courtney LaPointe, Hunter Lipponen, Caleb Lipponen, Morgan Fox and Kailyn Pierce. Also surving Rolly are his sisters Marlene Graham, Cheri (Lyle) Hoornstra, Kathy Cramer and brother in law Dick (Leona) McCuaig.

Roll was preceded in death by his parents; his sisters Leona McCuaig, Patricia King and Jaunita Hill; his brothers Robert Lipponen, Roger Lipponen, George Lipponen and Richard Collins.

Please join the family in a celebration of life being held on Saturday, April 22, 2023, at the Cozy Inn in Brimley, MI from 1pm-4pm.