Jennie I. Ranta, 89, a lifelong Ironwood Township resident, died Saturday, May 12, 2012, at home, surrounded by her family.      The former Jennie I. Spets was born July 29, 1922, in Ironwood Township, daughter of the late Otto and Ida (Masalin) Spets, and attended Roosevelt Grade School.         She was employed at the Hansen Glove Factory in Ironwood and as a cook at various area restaurants and Josephson Nursing Home  for several years, prior to graduating from high school on May 23, 1969. She then became a licensed practical nurse through Northern Michigan University on Oct. 16, 1970, and worked at Josephson Nursing Home in that capacity, retiring in 1982. She also did private duty nursing in her retirement.      Jennie was a member of St. John's Lutheran Church in Ironwood Township, the Sarah Circle, and the St. John's Knitters and Quilters. She also volunteered for many years at the Gogebic-Ontonagon Community Action Agency and worked for the SELLS Program at Copper Peak during the summer months. An excellent cook, baker, and knitter, she was renowned for her homemade biscuit, pasty, bread and knitted articles that she made for family and friends.      Jennie was a loving, caring, compassionate and strong woman that gave of herself for her family. She will be deeply missed.      She was married to Alfred W. Ranta on Aug. 2, 1941, in Bessemer. He preceded her in death on Jan. 6, 1978.      Surviving are a son, Joe (Bea), of Ironwood Township and formerly of Swartz Creek; three daughters, Marie (Gordy) Gurske, Gile, Wis., Margo (Ron) Rantanen, Ishpeming, and Kathy (Marv) Maki, Ironwood Township; 17 grandchildren; 19 great-grandchildren; daughters-in-law, Vivian Ranta, Hurley, Wis., and Elizabeth Ranta, Ironwood; and numerous nieces, nephews and cousins.          Besides her parents and husband, Jennie was predeceased by two sons, Wesley, in 1993, and Arthur, in 2001; a daughter, Pat Ranta, in 2002; six brothers, Otto, John, Tom and Sam, and Art and Waiko Spets; and six sisters, Aili Spets, Senja Johnson, Rauha Liimatainen, Hilja Laakso, Mary Niemi and Sigrid Lehti.      Funeral services will be held Thursday, May 17, at 1:30 p.m., preceded by visitation at noon, at Zion Lutheran Church, 100 W. Midland Ave., in Ironwood, with Pastor Peggy Rose officiating.      Cremation will follow.      Private committal and interment will be in Sunset Acres Cemetery, Ironwood Township.      Lunch will be served in the church fellowship hall immediately following the service.      Pallbearers will be Gordy and Brian Gurske, Joe Ranta, Marv Maki, and Ron and Bruce Rantanen.      In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Regional Hospice Services, 100 So. Mill St., Bessemer, MI 49911.      Jennie's obituary can be viewed online and condolences given to her family at mckevittpatrickfuneralhome.com.      Arrangements are entrusted to McKevitt-Patrick Funeral Home and Cremation Services of Ironwood.