Walter A. Riverside

Walter A. Riverside, 75, went home to be with his heavenly father on February 19, 2012 at Northstar Health System in Iron River surrounded by his family. Walter was born in Crystal Falls, MI to the late Hugo and Fannie (Tamminen) Riverside and attended the Crystal Falls School. On September 21, 1954, he married Rachel Dennis and they lived in the local area and in Chicago, IL. Together, they raised three children. They had celebrated their 57th wedding anniversary in September 2011. Walter was an avid outdoorsman, who especially enjoyed spending time at the family hunting camp with his son, Curt and best friend, Jim. Walt was a self-taught journeyman carpenter in the Chicago area, having done a great deal of work on historical homes in Oak Park, such as the Frank Lloyd Wright house. He was a self-taught artist and author, having written several books. Walter was preceded in death by his parents, Hugo and Fannie Riverside; his stepmother, Emma Riverside; one son, Walter Raymon; one daughter, Virginia Lynn; four sisters, Marie Miller, Francis Larys, Joselyn Schmelebeck, and Patricia Guidone; four brothers, Alfred Robarge, Williard Robarge, Peter Robarge, and Ramon Riverside. Walter is survived by his loving wife of 57 years, Rachel (Dennis) Riverside; one sister, Mary Jane Soderberg of Crystal Falls; one son, Curt (Jean) Riverside of Iron River; three granddaughters, Lisa Modrak (Jeff Haggard) of Caspian, Justyna Foster (Jake Skolasinski) of Escanaba, and Kristyna Foster of Iron River; five grandsons, Joshua (Carla) Modrak of Pearl, Mississippi, Matt Modrak of Pearl Mississippi, Christopher Foster of Iron River, Travis Riverside of Arizona, and Justin Foster of Iron River; two great grandsons, Jason and Jonnie Modrak of Pearl, Mississippi and a cousin who was like a brother, Jim (Inez) Riverside of Iron Mountain, and many other close relatives and friends. Visitation: Friday, February 24, 2012 from 10:30 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. at the 1st Lutheran Church, Iron River. Memorial Service: Friday, February 24, 2012 at 11:00 a.m. at the 1st Lutheran Church, Iron River with Rev. Bonny Kinnunen to officiate. Funeral arrangements by the Jacobs Funeral Home of Iron River. To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Walter A. Riverside, please visit our flower store.