Mable Elsie Oja

FUNERAL SERVICES: 11 AM Saturday, January 24, 2009 at Calvary Lutheran Church in Park Rapids VISITATION: 5 to 8 PM Friday and for one hour prior to the services on Saturday at the church INTERMENT: Wolf Lake Cemetery MABLE ELSIE OJA October 1, 1925 " January 20, 2009Mable Elsie Oja, age 83, of Osage, MN, passed peacefully from this life to eternal life on Tuesday evening, January 20, 2009 at her home on Straight Lake with her loved ones at her side caring for her every need. Mable was born on October 1, 1925 on the home farm in Ottertail County near New York Mills, MN to Emil and Lillian (Wiirre) Kallinen. It was in this same area that she attended country school through the eighth grade and then went on to attend the New York Mills High School from where she graduated in 1943. As a young woman, Mable ventured to Chicago, Ill. where she gained employment working at a WWII defense plant for several years. Later, she returned to MN where she worked in the office at the downtown Dayton"s Store. In April of 1946, a handsome young sailor returned home from fighting in the Pacific theatre of WWII and stole Mable"s heart. She was united in marriage to Lyle Byron Oja on August 4, 1946 in New York Mills. This union was blessed with one daughter, Eugenia. The young couple moved to Chicago where Mable devoted herself to making a warm and loving home. She was a wonderful cook and baker who will be long remembered for her delicious Finnish flat breads, prune tarts, mojaka and oat pancakes. Later the Oja"s made their home in Mpls., MN, Redwood Falls, MN and Littleton, CO before settling in Osage, MN in 1991. For eighteen years, Mable had worked as an accountant for the Ace Hardware Store in Englewood, CO. Mable loved the out of doors. Each spring she looked forward to planting a large vegetable garden which she would nurture into fruitful abundance to share with her family and friends. Mable used her time constructively accomplishing a variety of volunteer projects. She was an active part of the St. Joseph"s Hospital Auxiliary. She was one of the first female members of the Osage Lions Club. Mable was a long time member of the MN Finnish-American Historical Society and the Osage Ladies. She was also an auxiliary member of both the Otto Hendrickson American Legion Post #212 in Park Rapids and the VFW. Mable was a woman who possessed a deep and abiding faith and love for God"s Word. On Sunday mornings she would often listen to an evangelist on TV, go to church and participate in worship there and then come home to listen to more preaching on TV or radio. Mable loved her fellowship and worship at Calvary Lutheran Church in Park Rapids where she served on the altar guild. In her spare time, Mable enjoyed sewing, fishing, listening to music and singing. She especially enjoyed spending her summers with her granddaughter, Katy for the past 16 years. Above all, Mable dedicated her life to her Lord, her husband, her daughter and her grandchildren and many others who she loved with all her heart. She will be lovingly remembered by her husband for the past 62 years, Byron; her daughter, Genia Oja of Sedalia, CO, grandchildren: Katy Oja of Sedalia, CO and Shane Anderson of Sandy, Utah; a special niece, Diane Newstrom of Cross Lake, MN; a sister, Mildred Jusczak of Moose Lake, MN; two brothers: Merlin (Alice) Kallinen of Silver Bay, MN and Milton (Joanne) Kallinen of Kansas City, MO. Mable was preceded in death by her parents and three brothers: Melvin, Merville and Martin. Funeral services will be held 11 AM Saturday, January 24, 2009 at Calvary Lutheran Church in Park Rapids with Rev. Ken Nyhusmoen officiating. The organist will be Roz Pederson. Casket bearers will be Shane Anderson, David Feldt, Lenny Buckentin, Todd Newstrom, Stanley Myllykangas and Paul Myllykangas. The honorary casket bearers will be the members of the Osage Lions Club. Interment will be made in the Wolf Lake Cemetery. Visitation will be held from 5 to 8 PM Friday and for one hour prior to the services on Saturday at the church. A luncheon will be hosted by the Calvary Lutheran Church following the funeral service.