Randall John Saari

Randall "Randy" John Saari of Wrenshall, MN passed away peacefully in his home on Easter Sunday, April 12, 2009. He was born April 13, 1931 in Bessemer, Michigan to Sylvia and John Saari and would have celebrated his 78th birthday on Monday. Randy was a 1949 graduate of Bessemer High School. He attended Ironwood Gogebic Junior College, Michigan State University and night school at Wisconsin State University in Milwaukee. Randy served in the Army during the Korean War. Randy worked in Milwaukee for ten years and in 1965 was transferred to the Duluth area by Gates Rubber Company to work in the snowmobile track and conveyor belt industry in Duluth and on the Iron Range. The twelve years prior to his retirement in 1994, Randy worked for Goodyear as a Field Engineer in the Industrial Rubber Division. Randy's passions were playing golf and spending time with his grandchildren. He loved anything with small motors and wheels - ATV's, dirt bikes, scooters, etc. His last desire in life was to get a mobility scooter. The family would like to thank Dr. Glenn Albin, SMDC, Linda Wick, RN & CNP, Denise Buxbaum, Carla Laulunen and the staff at the Heart Failure Clinic for their wonderful care and compassion over the past years. The family also wishes to say thank you to Mike Pihlaja, RN, for his home hospice care. Randy was preceded in death by his parents. Randy is survived by his wife of 50 years, Alta of Wrenshall, whom he married on April 26, 1958 in Iron River, MI; two sons, Craig (Sherry) Saari of Carlton and Mark (Lori) Saari of Barnum; four grandchildren, Jessica, Travis, Sara and Stevie; one sister, Denise Jenkins of Eaton Rapids, MI; one nephew, Todd (Diane) VanAken of Eaton Rapids, MI and one niece, Jill (Ted) Reitsma of Longmont, CO. Memorial Services were held on Sunday, April 26, 2009 in Atkins-Northland Funeral Home Chapel, 801 14th Street, Cloquet, followed by a lunch in the Fireside Room of the funeral home.