Obituary for Lori A. Napierala (Salminen)
Lori Ann Salminen-Napierala passed away suddenly on February 6, 2023.
Lori was born in Ishpeming, Michigan on August 28, 1960 to Lucy and Lawrence Salminen. She was a beautiful little girl and the blonde-haired, blue-eyed light of her family’s lives.
Lori graduated from Westwood High School in 1978. She was a member of the National Honor Society and the U.P. State Choir. She attended N.M.U. before her adventurous spirit prompted her to move to Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Over the years, she was employed by Mueller Pipeline, Malaika Early Learning Education Center, and the Wisconsin Center District. Lori loved to travel and visited many exciting destinations.
Lori married Don Napierala in 1992 and together, they had a son named Luke Lawrence. Lori immediately became focused on providing Luke with the best life possible. He immediately became her whole world and provided her with endless pride and joy. Luke’s successes in life are a testimony to the wonderful mother she has been.
Lori was a great cook and loved to make foods learned from her mother such as meatloaf while her lasagna was her ultimate personal specialty. She was an avid reader and read voraciously throughout all genres.
Lori will be missed for her sense of humor, her laughter and quick wit. We’ll miss her willingness to lend a shoulder to cry on, hands that did not hesitate to pitch in and help, and her ability to care for anyone in need of care.
Lori is preceded in death by her parents, Lucy and Lawrence, her brother, Theodore (Buddy) Salminen, sisters, Karen (Richard) Schiemann and Lucy (William) Kangas, and a nephew, Christopher (Jackie) Kangas.
She is survived by her son, Luke, her ex-husband and dear friend, Don Napierala, her sister, Lynn (John) Nardi, and niece, Karen Kangas Gonzalez. She is also survived by nieces and nephews, John Nardi, Kirsten (Josh) Nardi-Harju, and Lindsay (Jeremy) Nardi-Bousman. Lori also is survived by great nephews Alex Gonzalez and Kyle Kangas, and five great-nieces, Kaitlyn, Isabella, Ava, Gianna and Gabriella.
Lori will be buried with her parents and siblings in the Humboldt Cemetery in Upper Michigan this summer. A celebration of life will be announced at a later date. See Hartson Funeral Home website for visitation and service times.
“When at heart you should be sad
Pondering the joys we had,
Listen and keep very still.
If the lowing from the hill
Or the toiling of a bell
Do not serve to break the spell,
Listen: you may be allowed
To hear my laughter from a cloud.
Sir Walter Raleigh
Lori was born in Ishpeming, Michigan on August 28, 1960 to Lucy and Lawrence Salminen. She was a beautiful little girl and the blonde-haired, blue-eyed light of her family’s lives.
Lori graduated from Westwood High School in 1978. She was a member of the National Honor Society and the U.P. State Choir. She attended N.M.U. before her adventurous spirit prompted her to move to Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Over the years, she was employed by Mueller Pipeline, Malaika Early Learning Education Center, and the Wisconsin Center District. Lori loved to travel and visited many exciting destinations.
Lori married Don Napierala in 1992 and together, they had a son named Luke Lawrence. Lori immediately became focused on providing Luke with the best life possible. He immediately became her whole world and provided her with endless pride and joy. Luke’s successes in life are a testimony to the wonderful mother she has been.
Lori was a great cook and loved to make foods learned from her mother such as meatloaf while her lasagna was her ultimate personal specialty. She was an avid reader and read voraciously throughout all genres.
Lori will be missed for her sense of humor, her laughter and quick wit. We’ll miss her willingness to lend a shoulder to cry on, hands that did not hesitate to pitch in and help, and her ability to care for anyone in need of care.
Lori is preceded in death by her parents, Lucy and Lawrence, her brother, Theodore (Buddy) Salminen, sisters, Karen (Richard) Schiemann and Lucy (William) Kangas, and a nephew, Christopher (Jackie) Kangas.
She is survived by her son, Luke, her ex-husband and dear friend, Don Napierala, her sister, Lynn (John) Nardi, and niece, Karen Kangas Gonzalez. She is also survived by nieces and nephews, John Nardi, Kirsten (Josh) Nardi-Harju, and Lindsay (Jeremy) Nardi-Bousman. Lori also is survived by great nephews Alex Gonzalez and Kyle Kangas, and five great-nieces, Kaitlyn, Isabella, Ava, Gianna and Gabriella.
Lori will be buried with her parents and siblings in the Humboldt Cemetery in Upper Michigan this summer. A celebration of life will be announced at a later date. See Hartson Funeral Home website for visitation and service times.
“When at heart you should be sad
Pondering the joys we had,
Listen and keep very still.
If the lowing from the hill
Or the toiling of a bell
Do not serve to break the spell,
Listen: you may be allowed
To hear my laughter from a cloud.
Sir Walter Raleigh