Vienna Amelia (Koski) Solin, 96, of Ironwood, Mich., and Oak Harbor, died Nov. 15, 2003, at Careage Nursing Home in Coupeville of natural causes.

She was born Aug. 19, 1907, in Ironwood, Mich., to Matti and Elizabeth (Belmas) Koski from Finland. She graduated from Luther L. Wright High School in 1925 and attended Northern Michigan University and obtained a two-year teaching certificate in 1928 and her bachelor’s degree in 1962. She married Jacob Alexander Solin in 1937, who was a devoted father and educator in the Roosevelt School, Ironwood High School and dean of Gogebic Community College. He preceded her in death June 19, 1997. She was also preceded in death by four brothers, Verner, Osmo, Terry and Archie, and two sisters, Taimi and Ina.

Vienna had a 43-year teaching career in the area schools including Norrie, Sleight, Newport, North Bessemer, McKinley and Roosevelt schools. She retired in 1971 and she and Jacob moved to Arizona for the winters in 1975 and continued to come back to the Northwoods in the summers staying at Haven North Condos in Hurley. She moved to Oak Harbor in 1997 and was residing at an independent care facility prior to her health deteriorating, requiring the move to Careage.

Survivors include her brother, Unto Koski of Ironwood; her sister-in-law, Rachel Kangas; her son and daughter-in-law, John and Sharon Solin of Coupeville; and two grandchildren, Travis Alexander Solin and Krissi Beeksma-Morse, both of Seattle. Cremation has taken place. Inurnment will be at Sunset Acres Cemetery in Ironwood Township. There will be a family graveside service in August 2004.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Gogebic Community College Jacob A. Solin Scholarship Fund, E-4946 Jackson Road, Ironwood, MI 49938 or to the charity or church or college of choice in Vienna’s name.