Shirley Joki

Shirley Bernice Joki, 90, of Duluth, passed away on Monday, September 8, 2025. She was born in Menahga, MN on April 13, 1935 to Walter Richard and Elma Mary (Kemp) Siironen.

      Shirley grew up in the Menahga and Alborn, MN areas, and attended the Alborn High School, graduating with the class of 1953.  She went on to attend the Duluth Business University and University of Minnesota, Duluth in 1955.  She was involved in many things and took great pride in her community.  She was a member of the PTA, St. Matthew’s Ladies Aid, was a school bus driver for children with special needs, a home health aide for Essentia Heath, was a labor Union Member and claimed her favorite job to be a bookkeeper at the Duluth Creamery.  

      Shirley found great joy in sewing, knitting, and crocheting.  She was proud of her Finnish heritage and enjoyed dancing and Folk Art to honor it.  Polka was her favorite and she also was a member of a few dance groups.  Enjoying travelling and cross-country skiing in her younger years while her time at the casino with the slots filled some time in her later years.        Shirley will be remembered for her toast and coffee in the morning, while solving her Sudoku puzzles or reading a good book. 

     Shirley is survived by her children, Shayne Campbell, Kelcey Joki-Medlin, Roy Joki, and Kyle Joki; grandchildren, Shii McDuff, Jevin Joki, Erin Green, and Brynn Drexler; great-grandchildren, Macguire McDuff, Niya McDuff, Wes Green, Cora Green, Harbor Drexler and Meya Drexler; siblings, Mary Wolf, Beverly Wintren, and Spencer Siironen; many other relatives and friends. Shirley is preceded in death by her parents; siblings, Ruth, and Stanley, and father of her children, Roy Joki.

 Dear Friends,

We have changed plans for Shirley Joki’s Celebration of Life gathering. It will no longer be at Atkins-Northland Funeral Home on Monday, October 20th, 2025.

Our new plans to celebrate Shirley’s life will be at:

Northeastern Bar & Grille, 115 St. Louis Avenue, Cloquet, MN 55720

Date: Sunday, October 19th, 2025

Time: 2:00pm – 5:00pm

We hope to have catered appetizers, the bar will be available, polka music and pictures in video.

Feel free to join our family for this celebration for Shirley. Finnish attire and memorabilia are welcome.

Arrangements entrusted to Atkins-Northland Funeral Home. To sign the guest book and offer an online tribute, see www.AtkinsNorthlandFuneralHome.com.