Loren Oliver Salmi

Loren Oliver Salmi, age 76, of Eben Junction, died peacefully and unexpectedly of natural causes at his home on Friday, November 1, 2024. He was born on November 23, 1947 to Eugene and Martha (Laakso) Salmi in Marquette, Michigan. Loren attended school in Eben and enlisted into the U.S. Army in March of 1965.  He was stationed in Germany and volunteered to serve his tour in Vietnam. After his discharge, he returned home and worked as a security guard at Mead Paper. While snowmobiling in the woods, he met Patricia “Pati” DesRoches, a volunteer with AmeriCorps VISTA who was living off the grid at a cabin in the woods with friends. They were married on December 31, 1971 and together raised their daughter, Mandi. Loren became a long-haul semi-truck driver and drove across the U.S. on jobs until his retirement. He was a past member of the V.F.W. Loren enjoyed his Harley Davidson motorcycles, his time at camp at Forkhorn Lodge, camping at Peter White, and hunting. He was proud of his Finnish heritage and enjoyed visiting relatives in Finland on numerous trips and enjoyed when they would come here to visit him.

Loren is survived by his daughter – Mandi Salmi of Eben Junction; brother – Daren Salmi (Robin Latvala) of Chatham; sister and brother-in-law – Candace and Wayne Ingalls of Eben Junction; nephew – Kole (Megan) Salmi of Chatham; sister-in-law – Jean Byrd of Simi Valley, CA; and several cousins. He was preceded in death by his parents – Eugene and Martha; his wife of over forty-nine years - Pati, who died on May 17, 2021; parents-in-law – Bill and Lucille DesRoches; nephew – Durwin Burdette; and brother-in-law – John Byrd.

Visitation will be held at the Bowerman Funeral Home in Munising on Friday, November 8, 2024 from 11:00 a.m. until 1:00 p.m. Military honors will be rendered by the Alger County Veterans Honor Guard at the Pine Grove Cemetery in Chatham, Michigan at 2:00 p.m.