Elsie Rintamaki (1916-2016)

Elsie Rintamaki, 100, of Kenosha, died peacefully at home on Sunday, March 6, 2016.  Elsie was born January 12, 1916, in Wakefield, MI, the daughter of the late John and Jennie (Hakala) Plosila.  She married Reino Rintamaki in Ironwood, MI, on December 5, 1933, and they lived in Montreal, WI, before moving to Kenosha in 1963.

Elsie worked in the laboratory at Kenosha Memorial Hospital for 15 years, until she retired in 1981.  She treasured the time spent with her family and will be remembered for her kind, generous spirit.  She always made room for one more person and modeled gracious contentment until the end.

Elsie will be dearly missed by her three daughters, Carol Hill (Walter), of Kenosha, WI; Susan Mielke (Lawrence), of Kenosha, WI; and Shirley Schmidt, of Kenosha, WI; four sons, Glen (Chris Linderman), of Belgrade, MT; John (Dolores Martinez), of Imperial, CA; Gerald (Debra Keitel), of Burlington, WI; and Richard, of Kenosha, WI; her brother, John Plosila, of Melrose, FL; as well as 21 grandchildren and 24 great-grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Reino, in 1986; son, William, in 1978; daughter, Diane Hainstock, in 1998; infant son, Carl; brother, Eugene Plosila; grandson, James Rintamaki; and son-in-law, Michael Schmidt, in 2016.

Elsie’s life will be celebrated in a private service.  In lieu of flowers, memorials can be made to Messiah Lutheran Church, 2026 22^nd Avenue, Kenosha, WI, 53144.

A special “thank you” is extended to Elsie’s son, Richard, for the years he dedicated to caring for her, allowing her to stay in the comfort of her home.