Kenneth A. Routhier, 85, of 15359
N. Saxon Falls Rd., Saxon, died Saturday, April 10, 2010, at
home.      He was born Aug. 29, 1924, in Duluth, Minn.,
son of the late Ernest and Inez (Augustson) Routhier, and was raised in
Republic, Mich.      He entered the U.S. Army on Dec. 3, 1943,
proudly serving his country during World War II in the South Pacific,
Philippines and New Guinea, and was honorably discharged on April 23,
1946.      Following his discharge, Ken returned to
Republic where he worked as a mechanic at Hooper's Ford garage for several
years.      On March 5, 1955, he married Joyce A. Peite in
Hurley. The couple resided in Chicago where Ken was employed for 32 years as a
machine operator for Stewart-Warner Co., retiring and moving to Saxon in
1986.      Ken was a member of St. Ann's Catholic Church
in Saxon and Mercier-Kero American Legion Post 371. He loved the outdoors and
his dog "Sparky".      Surviving are his wife, Joyce, of 55 years; a
daughter, Pam Sawaryn, and grandson, Ted Sawaryn, both of Saxon;
sisters-and-brothers-in-law, Faith and James Rajala, Ishpeming, Mich., Beatrice
and Verne Niemi and Rose Ann Koivisto, all of Hurley, Bob Pieti, Gile, and
Florence and Tony Peite, Mullen, Idaho; and numerous nieces and nephews and dear
friends.      Besides his parents, he was preceded in death
by five brothers, Harold, Jim, Jack, Roy and Bob Peterson; three sisters, Mary
Kopp, Gayle Schwankee and Joann Pietro; brothers-in-law, Donald Koivisto and
Walfred Lahti; and a sister-in-law, Helmi Pieti.      Out of respect for Ken's wishes, cremation has
taken place and no services will be held.      Arrangements were with McKevitt-Patrick
Funeral Home and Cremation Services of Ironwood.